May is Disability Insurance Awareness Month: Protect What Matters Most—Your Income

When people think about their most valuable asset, they often point to their home, car, or investment portfolio. But there's one asset that makes everything else possible—and that’s your ability to earn an income.

May marks Disability Insurance Awareness Month (DIAM), a time dedicated to raising awareness about one of the most overlooked forms of protection: Disability Income Insurance (DI). It’s not just for the unlucky few—over 1 in 4 of today’s 20-year-olds will experience a disability before retirement age​.

Why Does Disability Insurance Matter?

Most people think disabilities happen because of accidents. The reality? The majority of long-term disabilities are caused by illness—not injury​. Conditions like musculoskeletal issues, cancer, mental health disorders, and cardiovascular diseases account for the vast majority of disability claims.

Disability income insurance acts as a financial safety net, helping to replace a portion of your income if you’re unable to work due to illness or injury. Whether you're a high-income professional like a physician or attorney, or just starting your career, the potential financial loss from being unable to work can be devastating.

Consider this:
A 35-year-old earning $75,000 annually stands to lose more than $2.2 million in future earnings if they become permanently disabled​.

What Coverage Do You Have Today?

Many workers rely on group long-term disability (GLTD) coverage from their employers. But GLTD often only replaces 40–60% of income—and if your employer pays the premium, those benefits could be taxable. That leaves a significant income gap​.

Individual DI policies help fill that gap, and unlike GLTD, they can be tailored to your occupation, income level, and future earning potential.

Real People. Real Stories.

Brigitte Jameson never thought she’d become disabled. But after a serious accident, her MassMutual disability income insurance policy helped her stay afloat financially—and even finish her degree. Watch her story.​

And then there’s Scott Rider, a former financial professional whose Parkinson’s diagnosis upended his world. Disability income insurance became his family’s financial lifeline during an unimaginably difficult time​.

Could Your Savings Save You?

If you lost your paycheck for a year, would your savings be enough to cover mortgage payments, groceries, healthcare, and other essentials? For most people, the answer is no.

The average SSDI benefit in 2022 was just $1,483 per month​. That may not even cover your rent. DI coverage can help ensure that you don’t have to drain your retirement accounts or go into debt.

Let’s Start the Conversation

This DIAM, take a moment to assess your risks and review your income protection strategy. Ask yourself:

• What’s my income worth over the next 10, 20, or 30 years?
• If I became too sick or hurt to work, how would I pay my bills?
• What disability benefits (if any) do I currently have?

Disability insurance is more than a policy—it’s peace of mind that allows you to focus on recovery, not finances.

Protect your income. Protect your future. Let's talk about a plan that works for you.‍