Frequently Asked Questions

Here you can find the answers to some of our most Frequently Asked Questions.

We’re here to help. Call Freephone 0800 146 307.

  • help_outline How do I apply for Income Protection Plus cover?

    Once you have chosen your cover options via our Quick Quote, you can apply by using our quick and easy online application form. Simply complete the application form and then submit it. We will contact you to take your application forward.

  • help_outline Who can apply for Income Protection Plus?

    Anyone from age 18 to 63 that is a UK resident for at least 6 months and currently living in the UK can apply for Income Protection Plus, whether they are employed, self-employed or a mix of both.

  • help_outline What is the maximum level of cover I can apply for?

    It is up to you to determine the amount of income you need to receive each month, however the maximum level of cover available is 70% of your gross earnings or £1,200 a week, whichever is lower. Please note the higher the level of cover you select, the higher your monthly premium is likely to be.

  • help_outline What is the difference between Standard cover and Premium cover?

    Premium Cover means that we will pay your full insured Income Benefit to you for the duration of any period of incapacity, even if you were incapacitated until your Policy Retirement Date.

    Standard Cover is a less expensive option that will pay your full insured Income Benefit for the first two years of a claim (less your claim Deferment Period) but then reduces to 50% for the third year of the claim and 30% from the fourth year until you sufficiently recover or reach your Policy Retirement Date.

  • help_outline What does “Deferment Period” mean?

    The Deferment Period means the period you must wait from the start of any incapacity before you can start receiving Income Benefit payments from PG Mutual.

    You can select from the following Deferment Periods (depending on your occupation):

    Nil (also known as Day One Cover), 7 Days, 14 Days, 1 Month, 3 Months, 6 Months or 12 Months.

    There are two main things you should consider when selecting which of these options you wish to apply to your cover:

    Firstly, if you are employed, you should review your employment contract to see how long your salary will be paid in the event of you being incapacitated. You should consider the Deferment Period most appropriate for your circumstances.

    Secondly, the longer the Deferment Period you choose, the less we will charge you monthly for the Income Benefit you have selected. So, whether you are employed or not, you may choose to have a longer Deferment Period if you feel comfortable that you can accommodate a period where you will not be paid whilst incapacitated.

  • help_outline What if my employer pays me sick pay?

    If you are employed, you should review your employment contract to see how long and how much of your salary will be paid in the event of you being incapacitated. PG Mutual proportionately reduce your Income Benefit if you continue to receive an income greater than Statutory Sickness Pay from your employer while incapacitated.

  • help_outline Does vaping class as smoking?

    Vaping will not be classed as smoking. However, to be classified as a non-smoker you would need to not have smoked for a minimum 12-month period.

  • help_outline Are there any exclusions on the policy?

    There are some standard policy exclusions that apply. Please refer to the Income Protection Plus Policy Terms for further details. It is very important you read these carefully.

    We may also exclude some existing medical conditions following our underwriters’ assessment of your application.

    View Policy Documents

  • help_outline How can I make a claim?

    You can claim online through the Member Area or you can get in touch with us to request a claim form by calling us on 0800 146 307 or emailing us at info@pgmutual.co.uk. We will then let you know what the next steps will be and request any information that we may need as well as why we need it.

  • help_outline Is there a waiting period before a claim can be made?

    There is no compulsory waiting period once your policy starts before your cover begins. However, any incapacity that commenced before the start of your policy will not be covered.

  • help_outline Will my premiums increase each year?

    Your premiums may change from year-to-year as your age increases. We review the adequacy of our premium rates on an annual basis and our rates may be changed if, after taking into consideration the advice of our actuaries, the Board determines the existing premium rates are insufficient to cover the claims and operating expenses of the Society.

  • help_outline What if I change my occupation?

    Simply inform us of any changes to your occupation – we will then submit these changes for approval by our underwriters and inform you of any changes to your plan.

  • help_outline Do I need to have a medical examination?

    We would only ask you to undergo a medical examination by your own GP if we cannot make a decision based on your medical interview, which we can normally do. We may however, ask for information from your medical records. We will inform you in writing should this be the case.

  • help_outline How can I pay for my income protection plan?

    Premiums are to be paid by Direct Debit from a UK bank or building society account on either a monthly or annual basis.

  • help_outline I haven’t paid my Income Protection Plus premiums – can I still make a claim?

    We’ll send out a claim form, and will begin the initial assessment of the claim, but if you have payments outstanding, we’ll need these to be paid before we’ll pay the claim. If these aren’t paid, we may not be able to pay the claim in full. Once any outstanding premiums are paid, the monthly or annual payments must continue unless we tell you otherwise.

  • help_outline Can I recommend a friend, family or staff member for Income Protection Plus and if so, how do I do it?

    Yes you can. Full details are available here.

  • help_outline What happens if I can’t continue working within my profession, but could carry out another occupation?

    Your Policy Schedule will confirm whether your eligibility for income protection cover will depend on your inability to continue your “Own Occupation” due to disease, illness or injury, or your inability to do “Any Suitable Occupation”:

    • Own Occupation: you will be considered incapacitated if you could not undertake the essential duties of your profession (i.e. pharmacist, optometrist);
    • Any Suitable Occupation: you will only be considered incapacitated if you are unable to do the essential duties of your profession, but also any reasonably suitable occupation for someone of your qualifications, skills and experience.

    PG Mutual's definition of incapacity is based on your ability to continue the duties of your profession. Your policy schedule will confirm if your cover is not "own occupation".

    Please see our Income Protection Plus Policy Terms for full details of our terms for claiming incoming benefit.

    View Policy Documents

  • help_outline How flexible is my cover?

    You can apply to amend your cover at any time if your circumstances change, subject to approval by our underwriters. Simply contact us on 0800 146 307 to discuss your needs or complete and submit our Cover Variation Application form.

  • help_outline Can I include dividends as part of my gross earnings?

    Yes, you can include dividends as part of your gross earnings when calculating your weekly benefit entitlement. However, if you continue to receive dividend income during a period of incapacity, your benefit payments may be reduced. Once you stop receiving dividend income, the reduction to your benefit will be removed.

  • help_outline What happens once I have applied?

    If you apply for Premium Cover, our trusted partner MorganAsh will contact you to arrange a telephone interview to run through your medical history at a time convenient to you. As soon as we have a copy of your tele-interview our underwriters will review your application in full. We will then inform you in writing of our decision. If you’d like to know more about our medical interviews and the kind of questions that we may ask, please see our Guide to Tele-Interviews.

    If you apply for Standard Cover, you will be given the option of either full medical underwriting (as Premium Cover above) or full exclusion of any “pre-existing” conditions. If you choose to exclude any pre-existing conditions from cover, you will have the opportunity to ask the Society for clarification as to whether any particular condition or conditions would be treated as “pre-existing” in the event of a future claim.

    Your Guide To Tele-Interviews

  • help_outline What happens if I decide to go travelling or move country?

    You must generally be a UK resident to qualify for Income Protection Plus membership, and if you move away from the UK whilst you are an Income Protection Plus member, you will generally be required to forfeit your policy.

    While you will not forfeit your policy by travelling outside the UK, you will not generally be able to claim for Income Benefit whilst you are travelling or on vacation while incapacitated.

  • help_outline What if I don’t want to continue with income protection insurance?

    You may request to cancel your Income Protection Plus policy at any time with one month’s notice. Cancellations are processed at the end of the month in which the Society receives your written cancellation request.

    Please remember that if you no longer require your insurance cover, you can retain your Profit Share Account for a reduced premium. PG Mutual offers its Income Protection Plus members the option of Associate Membership. As an Associate Member you can retain your Profit Share Account but will not be entitled to claim any Income Benefit and may lose access to some of our membership benefits.

  • help_outline What is the Enhanced Loyalty Bonus?

    All Income Protection Plus policies include a Loyalty Bonus scheme that aims to boost your final policy maturity payment with a proportion of any capital the Society has gained over-and-above the value of the accumulated value of annual bonuses to your Individual capital account during your membership.

    This Loyalty Bonus scheme now includes an Enhanced feature that aims, in the event an Income Protection Plus member dies before the maturity of their policy, to pay a minimum capital sum of £10,000 and six months of income benefit to their nominated family members.

    Please note that the levels of the Loyalty Bonus scheme are not a guaranteed and can vary at short notice, including being reduced to zero, if necessary, to protect the financial strength of the Society.

  • help_outline What happens when I reach my Policy Retirement Date?

    Every Income Protection Plus membership will have a Policy Retirement Date for the insurance element of your membership (this Policy Retirement Date does not apply to your Profit Share Account).

    Once your Policy Retirement Date is reached (normally your 65th birthday) your insurance cover will expire and, whether you had been claiming immediately prior to your Policy Retirement Date or not, you will automatically become an Associate Member so that your Profit Share Account may continue with a reduced premium.