Death & TPD
If you were unable to work again, how much would you need to cover your expenses in the absence of an income? And if you were pass away what expenses would your family be left to cover? These are hard questions to ask ourselves, and even harder to answer. We can never know what will happen tomorrow, but being prepared can bring you peace of mind and can make the hardest times a little easier.
What to consider
Death cover is another term for life insurance. It's a lump sum to be paid out to your beneficiaries in the event of your death.
Total & Permanent Disablement (TPD) insurance is a lump sum payment which is paid to you if you are permanently disabled and unable to return to work. The amount should cover your debts and allow you to establish a suitable lifestyle.
One way to start calculating what you may need in the event of disablement, or if you were to pass away, is to add all of your long-term financial obligations, and subtract your assets.
Occupations
Zurich Australia Limited does not offer additional voluntary cover for all occupations. Please check the list of occupations below if you are not employed in a 'white collar capacity'.
Occupation guide (141.25 KB)The day-to-day expenses your salary covers throughout the whole year
This includes things like your household expenditure, utilities, food, transport costs including car repayments, insurance premiums, school fees, and anything else you can think of that you pay for on a regular basis.
Your debts
This can include your mortgage repayments, student loans, credit card debt and personal loans.
Your income needs
How much income you and your family will need to live comfortably today and tomorrow, and whether you would want to provide anything extra in addition to their basic needs.
Future costs for dependents
This includes the future costs of your children’s care and education, or for anyone else you support financially. If you’re a stay-at-home parent, include the cost to replace the services that you provide, such as childcare. This might also include an estimate of your funeral expenses.
Taxation
How tax applies to your super death benefits depends on several factors, such as:
- your age and whether your super comes from a taxed or untaxed source;
- whether your death benefit is paid to a financial dependant;
- how it is paid – i.e. as a lump sum or pension-style income stream;
- the age of the recipient of the benefit; and
- the age of the deceased person when they died.
For more detailed information on the taxation of death benefits, refer to the Australian Taxation office.
Assistance and advice
Rather than planning Death & TPD insurance in isolation, consider it as a part of an overall financial plan. Contact us if you would like assistance calculating your insurance needs.
