Inside a good individual NDIS plan, the phrase total disability should read much like: Total disability implies that because of sickness or injuries, you aren't able to carry out the material and substantial responsibilities of the occupation, even if you're at the office in certain other capacity, as lengthy while you aren't able to work in your occupation. This is exactly what we call, within the insurance industry, a real own occupation policy. Your occupation means the standard occupation (or jobs, if several) that you are engaged when you become disabled. If you're a physician, in certain policies, the meaning is further understood to be your medical niche (as certified through the American Board of Medical Specialties).
Having a true own occupation policy, if you're disabled per this definition and you decide to work in another occupation, you will keep to get your full total disability benefit, additionally for your new earnings. So, with this particular meaning of total disability, the solution to the issue posed within this article's title is absolutely.
There's another own occupation definition we call, in the market, an altered own occupation definition. This definition would read much like: Total disability implies that because of sickness or injuries, you aren't able to carry out the material and substantial responsibilities of the occupation and you're no longer working. You are able to clearly observe that the main difference between your modified and true own occupation definitions is adding the language and never trying to the modified own occupation definition. If you cannot carry out the usual and customary responsibilities of the occupation, you will get your benefits unless of course you're going to operate in another capacity.
Who requires a true own occupation definition within their policy? I'd say there are two groups of people that should certainly have this definition within their NDIS Support coordination plan:
The very first group consists of people that couldn't consider being unemployed for any lengthy time period when they were able to work in certain capacity. I understand I'd fall under that category. I like working and being productive and would most likely drive my loved ones crazy if I wasn't producing something, provided I could achieve this.
The 2nd group (as long as they also fall under the very first category) includes highly trained and highly compensated people who have acquired their skills (and supreme financial success) through years of training. A surgeon is a great one of an individual who suits this group. If he/she permanently hurt hands, for example, he/she'd most likely be unable to continue like a surgeon. However, also falling in to the first category, he/she would like to carry on being employed as your personal doctor - maybe in family practice, or possibly being employed as webmaster in a health plan. There'd most likely be considered a significant stop by earnings, therefore the disability benefits received would be described as a big financial boost for this former surgeon.