1. Payments for loss of income to an insured who is not able to work because of total and/or permanent disability for a covered injury or illness. Also called disability compensation . 2. Optional feature to a life insurance policy that provides for a waiver of premium and in some policies payment of monthly income if proof can be furnished that the insured has become totally and permanently disabled. 3. For Social Security disability, benefits are payable to people under full retirement age who have enough Social Security credits and who have a severe medical impairment (physical or mental) that is expected to prevent them from doing substantial work for a year or more or who have a condition that is expected to result in death.
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UK: Benefits added to life or income protection policies. They may include waiver of premium during periods of disability preventing the policyholder from following his normal occupation. The term has also been applied when periodic payments following temporary disablement from working are added to a life policy.