Because we understand that claims are submitted under very difficult and distressing circumstances, we’ve kept the process as simple and straightforward as possible. All claims can be submitted online in a few easy steps, and we’re here to help you every step of the way.

How much income protection do you need? Most people need to cover around 85% of their net income in case they become disabled. If you need help figuring out your ideal cover amount, ask a Sanlam adviser to call you back and help you create a personalised solution.

Your premium is determined through a process called underwriting. It may sound complicated, but underwriting is essentially the process your insurance provider uses to determine your risk status. This in turn affects your cover amount and monthly premiums, and establishes whether any terms and conditions apply to your policy. To help our underwriters calculate your status, you’ll be asked to supply information relating to your health, medical history, occupation and financial situation as well as details about where you’ve travelled or plan to travel and any potentially dangerous activities you participate in. You may also be required to complete a medical test. Our underwriting process is designed to ensure that you pay a fair premium for the full term of your cover and that your beneficiaries are able to claim confidently when the time comes. As carrying more risk for our clients forms part of our underwriting philosophy, your policy will remain unaffected should you change your occupation or smoking habits or take up risky activities after it has been issued.

Your cover can be automatically adjusted every year for inflation. Doing so ensures that should you need to submit a claim against your policy several years from now, your cover will still carry the same relative value as it does the day you took it out.

We understand that life can throw you curveballs from time to time, which is why we have several options in place to help you maintain your cover while you get things back on track. As a Sanlam Matrix client, you may request a three-month payment holiday, during which time you’ll still benefit from limited cover. If you’re an Indie client, we allow you to skip a specified number of premiums while ensuring that your cover continues uninterrupted. What’s more, once you’ve been with Indie for three years, you qualify for additional premium skips for every year your policy remains in place. However, given that your cover amount depends on the number of premiums you’ve paid in the last six months, if you do miss one or more premiums, your cover will decrease accordingly.