The insurer said it had improved its list of jobs to cover the evolving working world, reflecting the fact that many people’s working lives span a variety of roles and arrangements.
The insurer also now provides cover for more occupations, including zookeeping and air traffic control.
Fi Wynn, head of protection proposition at Royal London, said: “We’re committed to ensuring that income protection remains relevant and accessible for workers navigating today’s dynamic employment landscape.
“Jobs are constantly evolving, and in response, we’ve expanded access to income protection for a variety of job titles that were previously ineligible or where eligibility was unclear. This ensures even greater inclusivity, allowing more people to protect their income regardless of how their career develops.”
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Change to definitions
Wynn said the review had enhanced total permanent disability (TPD) definitions for 67 occupations, moving occupations from the working tasks definition to an own‑occupation definition.
The improvements are designed to make the claims process clearer and more straightforward, giving customers greater confidence and peace of mind should they need to claim, according to Royal London.
This alignment ensures that policies continue to meet the needs of policyholders whose careers may not follow traditional trajectories.
Vicky Churcher, executive director at the Income Protection Taskforce (IPTF), said the new definitions would help to serve those who are often excluded by standard income protection policies.
She added: “The IPTF welcomes developments that seek to broaden access to insurance, particularly for under-served groups such as the self-employed and those with non-traditional career paths. As the nature of work continues to evolve, ensuring that products, definitions and eligibility criteria keep pace is an important step in improving accessibility and relevance. Initiatives that support clearer cover and reflect modern working lives can help more people understand and engage with income protection.
“We look forward to seeing continued progress across the market that supports greater inclusion, consistency and confidence for both advisers and consumers.”
Self-employed unaware
The Royal London update comes after a recent study showed widespread misconception around income protection for the self-employed.
Some 16% believed the self-employed could not access income protection, rising sharply among younger groups to 31% of under-35s and 28% for those that already held cover. A further 38% did not know if this was true, according to LifeSearch.
