In a time when the global pandemic has changed the fabric of life as we know it, the theme “Reality Check” is more relevant now than ever. And the message is straightforward: Life can change quickly, and an illness or injury could take away your ability to earn a living. The truth is your income is your most valuable asset and provides for you and your loved ones. It’s easy to pretend accidents or ailments don’t happen, but the fact is, per the U.S. Social Security Administration, around one in four 20-year-olds will become disabled before they retire. That’s a scary stat, but there’s a way to set up a safety net. Long-term and short-term disability insurance protects your paycheck — and by extension, your family.

There are two types of disability insurance. Short-term disability insurance replaces a portion of your paycheck for a short period of time. Think three to six months. Long-term disability insurance, on the other hand, provides coverage if you’re out of work for a longer period of time. For instance, a family faced with a Parkinson’s diagnosis of an income earner would be faced with major life adjustments without the paycheck protection long-term disability provides. Likewise, as we have seen this past year, an illness that lasts a few weeks up to a few months can still devastate a person’s finances – and that is when short-term disability becomes the asset.

If anyone in your life depends on your income, you need disability insurance. Prepare today for the unexpected.