The encyclopedia
Everything about living benefits, organized
16 in-depth guides across 8 categories — written in plain English, updated as products and rules change.
The Basics
Start here. What living benefits are, how accelerated benefit riders work, who needs them, and the myths that trip people up.
4 guidesThe Four Riders
Deep dives on each accelerated benefit rider: terminal illness, chronic illness, critical illness, and critical injury.
4 guidesQualifying Conditions
The illnesses and injuries that can trigger a living benefits payout, from cancer and heart attack to the 2-of-6 ADL test.
1 guideMoney & Taxes
How payouts are calculated, how much you can access, what it does to your death benefit, and how the IRS treats the money.
2 guidesComparisons
Living benefits vs. long-term care insurance, disability insurance, standalone critical illness policies, and more.
1 guideBuying Guide
How to qualify, what coverage costs, how much you need, and what to expect from application to approval.
2 guidesClaims
How to file a living benefits claim, the documents you need, realistic timelines, and what happens to your policy after.
1 guideLife Situations
How living benefits fit real lives: parents, business owners, the self-employed, and people planning for retirement.
1 guideStart here
Most popular guides
Are Living Benefits Taxable? The IRC 101(g) Guide
Terminal payouts are generally tax-free, chronic payouts are tax-free up to IRS per-diem limits, and critical payouts usually favorable but fact-dependent. Plus the Medicaid/SSI warning nobody mentions.
4 min readRead guideBasicsHow Do Accelerated Benefit Riders Work?
Accelerated benefit riders are the machinery behind living benefits. Here's the mechanics: triggers, elections, discounts, caps, fees, and what happens to your policy afterward.
5 min readRead guideBuyingHow to Buy Life Insurance With Living Benefits: The Step-by-Step Guide
From choosing a face amount to comparing rider definitions, underwriting, and policy delivery — the complete buying process, including costs by age and buying with pre-existing conditions.
4 min readRead guideNo pressure. No obligation. Just answers.
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