Income Protection Insurance

Life can be unpredictable, and during challenging times, your ability to earn an income is arguably your most essential asset. When illness or injury strikes, it can be a difficult and overwhelming experience.

This is where Income Protection insurance comes in. It supports you, and your family, by paying a monthly benefit if you're unable to work due to sickness or injury. This can help cover your living expenses, such as your school fees, mortgage and car repayments.

When comparing income protection policies, it’s important to look beyond just the cost. Consider the features, benefit limits, and flexibility that match your personal circumstances.

Need help making a claim?

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Protect your income with confidence with two levels of cover to choose from

An income protection policy provides flexibility in how much income you protect and how long you receive benefits. Choose from two flexible cover options - Income Assure and Income Assure+ - to suit your lifestyle, career, and financial goals.

Product overview

How does Income Protection insurance work?

If you’re Totally or Partially Disabled, you’ll receive a monthly benefit after your Waiting Period ends, for the length of your Benefit Period.

Waiting Period: The time between when you become disabled and when benefit payments start (e.g., 30 days, 90 days, 6 months).
Benefit Period: How long payments continue once you’re eligible (e.g., 2 years, 5 years, or to age 65).

Insurance types

We offer two levels of income protection cover. Your financial adviser will help you decide which is most appropriate for you.

Income Assure: provides our standard range of benefits, features and options.
Income Assure+: provides our highest level of insurance plus extra benefits, features and options.

With Income Protection insurance, you also have access to Vivo, Acenda’s wellness and recovery support program. Whether you’re looking to feel better every day, managing a health condition or recovering from illness or injury, Vivo offers access to:

Daily wellbeing support services like Nutrition Consults, Fitness Coaching, and Mental Health Navigator
Recovery care programs including KickStart, Rehab Guidance, and Return to Work Coaching

Cover amounts

You can receive a monthly benefit of $1,500 to $30,000 (including the Super Contribution Benefit Option and Booster Option), based on your income.

Payments start after your Waiting Period ends and continue for the length of your Benefit Period while you’re Totally or Partially Disabled.

Booster Option: Can increase your monthly payments for up to 6 months once benefits begin.

Key benefits and features

	Income Assure	Income Assure+
Monthly benefit up to $30,000 to replace part of your income if you’re Totally or Partially Disabled.
Extended cover to age 70: With stricter disability definitions after age 65.
Elective surgery cover: Pays a monthly benefit due to illness or injury because you undergo a medically advised surgery, organ donation, or cosmetic surgery.
Rehabilitation support: Up to 12 times your monthly benefit paid directly to rehabilitation providers (outside super only).

Acenda Insurance and Acenda Insurance (Super) PDS kit

Acenda Insurance TMD

Acenda Insurance Super TMD - ETSL

Additional options

You can apply for these options at an additional cost:

Super Contributions Benefit: This option pays super contributions for you when you are receiving a monthly benefit under a Total Disability Benefit or Partial Disability Benefit. If this option is selected, up to 15% of your earnings is paid to your nominated super fund.

Indexed Claim Benefit: This option helps your benefits keep pace with inflation. Your benefits are worked out using the monthly benefit payable and your earnings before disability. After we have paid you continuously for 12 months, each of these will increase every year by the CPI rate (subject to maximums).

Short Waiting Period for Accidental Injury – Income Assure with 14 day or 30-day Waiting Periods only: This Option allows income protection payments to start during the waiting period if an accident leaves you Totally Disabled for 3 days in a row.

Short Waiting Period for Accidental Injury and Critical Illness Option – Income Assure+ with 14 day or 30-day Waiting Periods only: This option goes further to add Critical Conditions listed in your policy as situations that activate income protection payments during the waiting period if you are left Totally Disabled for 3 days in a row.

Booster Option – Income Assure+ only: If you have chosen the Booster Option and become Totally or Partially Disabled, we’ll add 20% when calculating your earnings for the first 6 months.

Waiting and benefit periods

Choice of flexible waiting periods

Income Assure	Income Assure+
14 days
30 days¹
90 days¹
1 year
2 years

There is a waiting period before your benefits start.

A shorter waiting period means your income protection benefit will start sooner.

Choosing the right waiting period affects how soon you start getting payments from us and the overall cost of your premiums.

Your premiums will generally cost more for shorter waiting periods.

For people working in certain hazardous occupations the waiting periods available are 30 days and 90 days only.

¹_{For people in certain hazardous occupations:}

_{The Waiting Periods available are 30 days and 90 days only}

Choice of benefit period

Income Assure	Income Assure+
2 years¹
5 years¹
Up to age 65
NA	Up to age 70

Your benefit period is the longest period that we’ll pay your monthly benefit while you remain unable to work because of illness or injury.

A longer benefit period means your benefit can be paid for longer. Your premiums will generally cost more for longer benefit periods.

For people working in certain hazardous occupations the benefit periods available are 2 years and 5 years only.

¹_{For people in certain hazardous occupations:}

_{The Benefit Periods available are 2 years and 5 years only.}

How to pay your Acenda Income Protection insurance premium

Acenda Income Protection insurance is available both inside and outside super. This means you can use your super to pay the premiums, or you can pay directly from your bank account or through an eligible wrap account. To see all your available payment options, click here.

How can I purchase Acenda Income Protection insurance?

To purchase Acenda Income Protection insurance, you’ll need to speak with a licensed financial adviser. They can give you advice that is tailored to your personal financial situation, and help you understand things like:

What types of cover you need
How much cover you need
Which optional extras might be right for you, and

Whether to have it through a super fund.

If you don’t already have a financial adviser, visit moneysmart.gov.au. It’s a government-run resource where you can search for licensed professionals, including financial advisers able to advise on life insurance, superannuation, and other investments.

Find an adviser

Do you need Income Protection insurance?

You may want to consider Income Protection insurance if you:

Need to replace income if unable to earn income due to illness or injury
Have a partner, family or dependents
Have a mortgage or other large debts
Have a business or are self-employed
Don’t have adequate savings to cover unexpected expenses.

Income Protection insurance FAQs

Who can apply for Income Protection insurance?
Those aged between 18 and 59 who are gainfully employed can apply. Your residency status, job, health, lifestyle, and medical history determine if we can insure you and on what terms.
What levels of cover are available?
There are two levels:
- Income Assure – standard level of cover
- Income Assure+ – highest level of cover with extended cover to age 70 and more optional benefits like the Booster Option.
How much can I be insured for?
You can insure up to $30,000 per month, depending on your income and the options you choose although we may not pay the full amount if you were earning less before your Total Disability.
What is a Waiting Period?
It’s the time between when your illness or injury first makes you Totally Disabled and when your payments start. Most of our policies let you choose from 14, 30, 90 days, 1 year or 2 years. Those working in certain hazardous occupations may only choose from 30 days or 90 days.
What is a Benefit Period?

This is how long you’ll receive monthly payments. Most of our policies let you choose from 2 years, 5 years, or up to age 65 or 70. Those working in certain hazardous occupations may only choose from 2 years or 5 years.
Are there any exclusions?
We won’t pay a benefit for:
- Intentional self-inflicted injury or attempted suicide
- A condition that we didn’t know about because you didn’t take reasonable care to tell us when you answered relevant questions that we asked when you were applying to obtain, increase or reinstate cover.
- Please refer to the PDS for the full list of exclusions.
How do I make a claim?
Just call us as soon as possible - ideally within 30 days of becoming disabled. We’ll guide you through the process and let you know what documents you need to provide.
For step-by-step instructions and to start your claim, visit our Claims page.
Can I claim if I’m unemployed?
You might still be able to claim if you’re recently unemployed when you become disabled, so we suggest you call us to find out one way or the other.
What happens if my circumstances change, like my job or income?
Life changes - and your insurance can change with it. If your income increases, you may be eligible to boost your monthly benefit by up to 20% without needing to provide new medical evidence. This applies after certain life events like:
- Getting married or divorced
- Having a child
- Completing a university degree
- Receiving a salary increase of 10% or more
- Taking out or increasing a mortgage
To request an increase, you’ll need to provide financial evidence and submit your request in writing within the allowed timeframe. You can also adjust your cover, change your benefit amount, or add/remove options at any time - just speak with your financial adviser.

If your income goes down and you don’t expect it to go back up, you might have become over-insured – paying for more cover that you can claim against. Still, we recommend that you first speak with a financial adviser before reducing your cover to ensure you make the best decision since you might not be able to put your cover back up again in the future if your health has got worse.