This kind of cover is designed to give a monthly or yearly income to help if one or both wife and husband die and they require income to provide for dependents. Two things control the cost and these are chosen at the quotation stage and should be altered depending on your situation. The first is the term this is how long the policy will pay out for if you need to claim. A term of 15 years will give income for that length of time. However if you died at year 5 the family income benefit policy will only pay out for the next five years on a 10 year term. Cover at the best price at a time when you need it most
For eg you have a new born child. You could say that cover would be required for 20 years. You might set the term for the family income benefit policy for 18 years. You die 10 years in and the policy would only pay out for 8 years. However after the 8 year period the need for income ceases as the child is now able to earn income by themselves.
The other variable is the sum assured. Unlike a term insurance quote that pays out a fixed sum the sum assured will be set at the yearly income required. The family should already have or take out adequate insurance to pay off mortgages and loans therefore the income required can exclude these commitments. Family income benefit amount should be set to the amount the family will need with one partners income gone.
The best feature of family income benefit over term insurance is that amounts insured and income cannot alter. Unlike term insurance where a lump sum would be invested to provide income and therefore the income is variable and depends on performance of the investment. Another problem with using a lump sum to provide income is that in general people are scared by investing and many will waste the amount of the claim as the urge to use the sum assured and to buy cars or holidays can be to hard to stop.
In brief family income benefit can form a very important part of life insurance and protection planning. Used with level and decreasing life insurance policies to protect debts. It also other forms of illness and income protection covers. Your best advice and solution is to speak to a insurance adviser to help protect your family.