Unemployment, accident & sickness insurance Eligibility for Cover

Before purchasing any type of insurance, it is vital you assess whether this cover is suitable for your needs and satisfy yourself that if you did make a claim, you would be able to receive the benefits on offer.

Please go through this checklist before applying for cover to ensure you meet the eligibility criteria. Please note, this list is an overview of the eligibility requirements for the Payment Protection Insurance policies from British Insurance. As we use a number of insurers, the eligibility criteria may vary slightly, but will be shown to you as part of the application process. The Policy Wordings will hold full details of the cover provided and should be read carefully to make sure the policy is suitable to your requirements.

• I am aged over 18 and under 63. If I am close to 65 I appreciate that cover will automatically terminate when I reach the age of 65 and that any benefit payable under the policy will terminate when I reach age 65 if it has not terminated before that date. (Some policies will allow you to take out cover if you are 63 or 64, however your ability to make a full claim will be reduced as you approach your 65th birthday.)

• I am permanently living and working in the UK.

• I am actively working in paid employment for at least 16 hours per week and I am eligible to register with the Job Centre Plus if I become unemployed or my hours are reduced to less than 16 hours per week.

• My work is not: temporary (including agency work), casual, seasonal, irregular, a period of training/apprenticeship or for a specific task

• I have worked continuously for the past six months.

• I am aware that I must continue to pay my premiums on time.

• I am aware that I will not be covered for any accident or sickness that occurred before the start date of my policy, or for any chronic or continuing medical conditions that I already have.

• If I am a Contract Worker (as defined by the Policy Wordins for my selected insurance) I am aware that the underwriters require my contracts to be of a fixed length. (Further information regarding Contract Workers can be seen in the Policy Wordings.) Furthermore I am aware that unemployment will not be covered beyond the date my contract would have otherwise expired naturally. I also appreciate that I will not be covered for non renewal of my fixed term contract unless I meet the specific conditions of the policy.

• If I am Self-Employed (as defined by the Policy Wordings for my selected insurance) I am aware of the additional requirements I will need to meet to support a claim. I appreciate that I must have involuntarily ceased to trade and advised the local Tax Office of this.(Further information regarding Self-Employed can be seen in the Policy Wordings.)

• I am aware that the sum insured under this policy and any other similar insurance policies I may be able to claim on must not exceed 50% of my monthly earned income before tax and if I exceed this limit my benefit will be reduced.

• I am aware of the 120 day initial exclusion period for unemployment or Carer Benefit.

• I am not aware of any impending unemployment, whether or not I have received official notification and my employer has not announced any job losses, any departmental or company restructure or merger with another company. Furthermore, I am aware that I will not be covered for unemployment that arises from any programme of job losses, any departmental or company restructure, or merger with another company, announced by my employer before the start date of my policy, or within 120 days after the start date of my policy.