An accident or illness can temporarily stop you from working.

If you are employed, sick leave may keep income coming in for a while, but it may not last as long as your illness or injury.

You may be able to claim workers' compensation, but only if the accident or illness happened at work. How would you manage without your income for a few months?

Income protection insurance will pay you an income if you are temporarily unable to do your own job. You'll need to provide medical evidence to support a claim. Usually the policy will:

• include a waiting period before you can make a claim
• pay you up to 75% of your income before the disability
• pay you for a set term or until you return to work.

Premiums for income protection will depend on your age, sex, medical history, and occupation. The waiting period and payment term you choose are also important. Premiums can be claimed as tax deductions in some cases, but the income payments are taxed at PAYG rates.

You may need to review your cover if you change jobs or super funds, as income protection cannot usually be transferred between funds. QSuper provides income protection, and full details can be found in the product disclosure statement for the Accumulation account, or in the Defined Benefit guide.

If you claim workers' compensation or other benefits while you're off work, you won't be able to claim income protection benefits for the same period.