mortgage payment protection insurance

Summary of cover

This policy will help you to protect your mortgage payments and insurance premiums for up to 12 months if you become unemployed or suffer a disability (accident or sickness).

If you are taking out the policy to protect a new mortgage or re-mortgage you will receive the first three months cover completely FREE OF CHARGE.

If you are taking out the policy to protect an existing mortgage, then subject to the unemployment exclusion detailed below, you will receive the first three months cover completely FREE OF CHARGE.

Unemployment Exclusion – if you are taking out the policy to protect an existing mortgage, you will not be covered against any unemployment, which occurs during the free cover period. This exclusion will not apply if you transfer your cover from another insurer; provided your existing policy has been in force for at least six months and you have not made a claim under that policy.

The main benefits and features of the policy:

• It provides full unemployment and disability cover. Unemployment only cover or disability only cover is available at a reduced cost.
  
  
• Free cover benefits for both new and existing mortgage borrowers.
  
  
• Competitive premium rates after the free cover period.
  
  
• Back-to-Day-One benefits payable after 30 days.
  
  
• Claim benefits are paid for up to 12 months.
  
  
• It covers employed and self-employed applicants.
  
  
• Simple application procedure (no medical required).
  
  
• Cover can be transferred from one lender to another.

The risk of accident, sickness and unemployment

• 90 families a day had their homes repossessed in 2000. The majority due to the financial problems associated with unemployment.
  
  
• One in three people aged between 25-34 have experienced unemployment for a period in excess of one month.
  
  
• Almost one in five working age households (3.4 million) have someone who is currently unemployed.
  
  
• Today in Britain there are almost 1,000,000 persons who are registered as unemployed.
  
  
• Every day 500 people in the UK become unemployed. 60% of unemployed men and 45% of unemployed women will be out of work for six months or more.
  
  
• Every adult in Britain is five times more likely to suffer a serious disability than die before the age of 60.
  
  
• Today in Britain, 2,900 people will start claiming state disability benefits.
  
  
• 1,800,000 people in Britain are already disabled and have been unable to work for 12 months or more.

What about State Benefits?

You can no longer rely on the Government. State benefits for a single person are currently under £60 per week. Could you manage on that? The typical state benefit for two adults with two children is £96 per week; the maximum is £134 per week. Could you support your family on this?

Since October 1995 new mortgage borrowers will receive no state help for the first nine months of unemployment or disability. Existing mortgage borrowers receive nothing for the first two months, only 50% for the next four months and then full benefit for mortgages of up to £100,000 provided they qualify for Income Support. The Government themselves estimate that 70% of mortgage borrowers will not get Income Support due to savings, income, or a working spouse or partner.

In 1998 alone, the introduction of a new incapacity criteria resulted in 102,000 claimants being turned down for state benefit. An independent doctor (not your own) will carry out your assessment and you must be incapable of doing any work, not just your normal job, to qualify for state benefit.