NMFN Home

Go to Access Your Accounts
Office LocatorGo to Office Locator
Go to Search

Disability Insurance

Individual Disability Insurance

Disability Income

Interim Term

Disability Overhead Expense

Key-Person Disability

Disability Buy-Out Coverage

Group Disability Insurance

Small Group Long Term

Small Group Short Term

Large Group Long Term

Large Group Short Term

Disability Income 

Offered through The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company

Disability Income Insurance protects your most valuable asset, your ability to earn an income. Especially in dual-income families where both incomes are needed, one-income households, or situations where your employer's plan isn't enough. Disability Income Insurance offers protection through benefits that provide a portion of your pre-disability income.

Non-Cancellable and Guaranteed Renewable 

Your policy may be purchased as either a non-cancellable and guaranteed renewable policy or as a guaranteed renewable policy.

A non-cancellable policy cannot be changed unilaterally by the Company. The premiums and provisions are guaranteed once the contract is issued.

A guaranteed renewable policy cannot be canceled nor have its terms, other than premiums, changed by the Company if timely payment of premiums to the first anniversary after your 65th birthday have been paid. Premiums may only be changed by class and may be subject to approval by the appropriate regulatory agency.

Beginning Date 

Disabilities are not always measured in consecutive days. Northwestern Mutual allows an extended period of time to accumulate days of total or partial disability toward the Beginning Date of benefits. Days of disability due to different causes will be accumulated to satisfy the Beginning Date.

Benefit Period 

It's hard to predict the length of time you may need to receive disability benefits. Northwestern Mutual offers Maximum Benefit Periods of two years, five years, to age 65 or to age 70. Most people choose to purchase coverage that would provide disability benefits to age 65 to insure against a long-term disability.

Total Disability Options 

Northwestern Mutual offers one of the most comprehensive and competitive Disability Income insurance policies available. We understand individual needs differ, which is why we offer four alternative definitions of Total Disability. You have the flexibility, depending upon your occupation classification, to select the definition that meets your specific needs and best fits your budget. We recognize the value of Partial Disability coverage to an insured who, as a result of a disability, is only able to work part-time and thereby incurs a loss of earned income. Therefore, we have made this a standard feature in our contract.

Four-Tiered Definition of Total Disability

  • Any Occupation Definition of Total Disability Option—During the first 24 months following the Beginning Date, you are totally disabled when you are both unable to perform the principal duties of your regular occupation and not gainfully employed in any occupation. After the first 24 months following the Beginning Date, you are totally disabled when you are both unable to perform the principal duties of any occupation for which you are reasonably fitted by education, training or experience and not gainfully employed in any occupation.
  • Base Contract Definition—You are totally disabled when you are both unable to perform the principal duties of your regular occupation and not gainfully employed in any occupation.
  • 2-Year Initial Period Option*—During the first 24 months of disability following the Beginning Date, you are totally disabled when you are unable to perform the principal duties of your regular occupation. After the first 24 months of disability following the Beginning Date, you are totally disabled when you are both unable to perform the principal duties of your regular occupation and not gainfully employed in any occupation.
  • Extended Initial Period Option**—You are totally disabled when you are unable to perform the principal duties of your regular occupation.

*Available to 4A & 5A & 6A Occupation Classes in the Non-Medical Markets and all Medical Market occupations.

**Available to 5A and 6A Occupation Classes in Non-Medical Market only.

Partial Disability Benefit 

A proportionate benefit helps compensate for a loss of earned income caused by the Insured's partial disability. Some of the features of this benefit include:

  • Your choice of cash or accrual accounting.
  • Earned income prior to disability is indexed when determining the Proportionate Benefit.
  • Loss of Earned Income is not required prior to the Beginning Date and for the first six months in which Proportionate Benefits are payable during partial disability.
  • If you have at least an 80% Loss of Earned Income, the Proportionate Benefit amount payable will be 100% of the Full Benefit.

Transition Benefit 

It can take time to restore your earnings after a total or partial disability. Northwestern Mutual's Transition Benefit is payable based on Loss of Earned Income for up to 12 months after you've returned to continuous full-time work.

Presumptive Total Disability Benefit

You are automatically considered totally disabled for specified disabilities. The Full Benefit starts with the date of the loss and is payable for as long as the loss continues during your lifetime. Presumptive disability benefits are payable even if you are able to work.

Waiver of Premium 

Premiums are waived during disability from 90 days after the start of a disability. Premiums due and paid during this time will be refunded. An annual premium will be waived on each policy anniversary and premiums are waived beyond the benefit period if you are still disabled.

Waiver of Premium will continue for the duration of the disability, regardless of the Maximum Benefit Period; however, Waiver is subject to limitation while the Insured is outside the United States and the Limitation for Mental Disorder and Substance Abuse and Dependency.

Optional Benefits(1)

  • Future Increase Benefit—Inflation protection before and after disability.
  • Indexed Income Benefit—Inflation protection during a disability up to 6% compounded annually with no limitation on total coverage, to age 65.
  • Additional Purchase Benefit—Guarantees the purchase of additional disability insurance, subject to financial insurability. The Company will not refuse to issue additional coverage because of changes in the Insured's health, activities or occupation.
  • Social Insurance Substitute Benefit(2)—Supplements your disability benefit if Social Security does not pay the Maximum Family Benefit, and no benefits are payable under a State Disability Insurance program. Also supplements your disability benefit if Social Security pays no benefits and benefits are payable under a State Disability Insurance program.

You will need the free Adobe Acrobat Reader to view a PDF. For printable PDF forms, please print the form, fill in the information, sign, and return to the address shown on the form.


Related Videos
Brad Elman
Protect Your Income
To learn more, contact
one of our Financial Representatives
  Learn More