A charity-led campaign aimed at raising public awareness of the financial impact of long-term illness and disability has launched officially, Peter le Beau has announced.
The chairman of the Income Protection Taskforce and founder of the Seven Families campaign, said: “Put simply, we want to highlight the need for people to plan financially in case they become too ill to earn. This campaign provides a tax-free income for one year to people who have lost their ability to earn because of a serious or long-term health condition or disability.”
The campaign, administered by Disability Rights UK and the Income Protection Taskforce, will provide financial support for one year to the breadwinners of seven families who are currently unable to work through ill health or as the result of an accident.
The families are based in different parts of the country, come from various backgrounds and are experiencing the effects of a range of different health conditions and injuries.
Protection providers supporting the campaign include Aegon, Ageas Protect, Aviva, British Friendly, Canada Life, Cardif Pinnacle, Ellipse, Exeter Friendly, Fineos, Friends Life, Hannover Re UK Life, LV=, Pacific Life Re, PruProtect, RGA, Scor, Scottish Widows, Unum and Zurich.
A Just Giving page – www.justgiving.com/7F – has also been set up for companies or individuals who may wish to provide additional support to the project.
Industry view
Colin Williams, managing director of workplace and intermediated for Friends Life, said: “It’s extremely important that we raise the profile of income protection so more people understand it and can see its value. Insuring your income can mean if you do find yourself unable to work through illness or injury you will have a means to pay your bills.”
