Long-term disability insurance (LTD) is an insurance policy that protects you from loss of income in the event that you can’t work due to illness, injury, or accident for a long period of time.
Disability insurance is especially important for freelancers, who don’t have the luxury of vacation days or sick leave in the case of a life-altering event.
Your disability insurance means you’ll get income replacement checks (like a paycheck) while you can’t work.
We offer two types of disability insurance: one begins 30 days after you become disabled and the other begins 90 days after you become disabled. In other words, in the case of an injury or illness, you would have to wait either 30 or 90 days until you receive income replacement checks.
Here's a good rule of thumb: look for a policy that's about 50% of your monthly income. For instance, if you earn $60K per year after all of your business deductions, $2,500 per month of coverage may be a good fit.
Benefits are based on your taxable earned income, which is your income after taking any business deductions (rent, equipment, etc.). Guardian will request and review your historical tax returns in order to determine the benefit payout.
Check out the table below. Rates are organized by age and the waiting period before you receive benefits, either 30 days or 90 days. 90-day waiting period policies cost less than the same coverage level with a 30-day waiting period.
| Monthly Benefit | $500 | $750 | $1,000 | $1,250 | $1,500 | $2,000 | $2,500 | $3,000 | $4,000 | $5,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Annual Salary Required | $12,000 | $18,000 | $24,000 | $30,000 | $36,000 | $48,000 | $60,000 | $72,000 | $96,000 | $120,000 |
| Age | Monthly Cost | |||||||||
| 15 - 24 | $7.54 | $8.45 | $9.33 | $10.74 | $12.39 | $15.48 | $20.13 | $23.15 | $30.88 | $38.61 |
| 25 - 29 | $8.10 | $9.28 | $10.43 | $12.28 | $14.42 | $18.47 | $24.54 | $28.50 | $37.82 | $47.29 |
| 30 - 34 | $9.15 | $10.84 | $12.57 | $15.21 | $18.37 | $25.94 | $33.10 | $39.01 | $52.28 | $65.34 |
| 35 - 39 | $8.38 | $9.69 | $11.03 | $13.06 | $15.30 | $21.54 | $26.76 | $31.22 | $41.83 | $52.29 |
| 40 - 44 | $8.84 | $10.40 | $11.95 | $14.35 | $16.76 | $23.62 | $29.82 | $34.47 | $45.79 | $57.25 |
| 45 - 49 | $10.48 | $12.82 | $15.18 | $18.85 | $22.83 | $33.40 | $43.10 | $50.83 | $67.66 | $84.59 |
| 50 - 54 | $15.70 | $20.68 | $25.66 | $33.38 | $41.80 | $63.25 | $83.82 | $99.97 | $133.32 | $166.66 |
| 55 - 59 | $22.02 | $30.16 | $38.30 | $50.96 | $64.34 | $100.05 | $134.09 | $161.22 | $214.88 | $268.61 |
| 60+ | $35.48 | $50.35 | $65.21 | $88.32 | $113.36 | $178.55 | $241.19 | $291.42 | $388.42 | $485.53 |
| Monthly Benefit | $500 | $750 | $1,000 | $1,250 | $1,500 | $2,000 | $2,500 | $3,000 | $4,000 | $5,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Annual Salary Required | $12,000 | $18,000 | $24,000 | $30,000 | $36,000 | $48,000 | $60,000 | $72,000 | $96,000 | $120,000 |
| Age | Monthly Cost | |||||||||
| 15 - 24 | $6.58 | $7.00 | $7.42 | $8.07 | $8.83 | $10.28 | $12.43 | $13.85 | $18.45 | $23.06 |
| 25 - 29 | $6.58 | $7.00 | $7.42 | $8.07 | $8.83 | $10.28 | $12.43 | $13.85 | $18.45 | $23.06 |
| 30 - 34 | $7.37 | $8.18 | $9.00 | $10.26 | $11.75 | $15.36 | $18.77 | $21.59 | $28.89 | $36.12 |
| 35 - 39 | $7.83 | $8.86 | $9.90 | $11.51 | $13.27 | $18.18 | $22.29 | $25.81 | $34.36 | $42.95 |
| 40 - 44 | $8.33 | $9.63 | $10.91 | $12.91 | $14.93 | $20.64 | $25.81 | $29.68 | $39.31 | $49.14 |
| 45 - 49 | $9.63 | $11.55 | $13.48 | $16.48 | $19.75 | $28.42 | $36.36 | $42.70 | $56.72 | $70.91 |
| 50 - 54 | $12.25 | $15.51 | $18.76 | $23.82 | $29.31 | $43.33 | $56.78 | $67.33 | $89.56 | $111.95 |
| 55 - 59 | $14.41 | $18.73 | $23.07 | $29.80 | $36.92 | $55.91 | $74.01 | $88.45 | $117.89 | $147.37 |
| 60+ | $14.75 | $19.26 | $23.77 | $30.77 | $38.36 | $58.11 | $77.19 | $92.32 | $123.38 | $153.59 |
Freelancers Union, Inc. (FU) is not a licensed insurance agent or insurer. Freelancers Union contracts with Guardian to provide you with group disability insurance. The information on this Website about disability benefits is a summary of applicable terms and conditions that is provided for general informational purposes only. The terms of any disability products are governed solely by the applicable Member Contract. In the event of any inconsistency between information provided on this Website and the specifics provisions of the Member Contract, the Member's Contract shall govern.