Changes Clarified
In 2019 we changed the policy to remove Total and Permanent Disability (TPD) cover from the constabulary PWF group life package.
In making this change, the PWF Board considered the price we were paying for this cover, along with the extremely low level of claims paid by the insurer over a long period of time. We also considered the double-ups between TPD cover and Critical Illness cover (which remains in place).
At the time, this change was not well communicated to members. Although we referred to the TPD removal in a letter, we didn’t explicitly set it out for you. If you believe you have been disadvantaged by our failure to communicate the TPD removal, please contact us.
There are two ways you might have been disadvantaged:
1. if you had already had an illness or injury that was likely to give rise to a claim; or
2. if your circumstances have changed so that you cannot now get the cover elsewhere if you wanted to.
Please see our FAQ section below for further information.
Who do these changes affect?
All persons included as a Police Officer except non-sworn police employees:
| A Constable as defined under the Policing Act 2008 |
| An Authorised Officer as defined under the Policing Act 2008 |
| Warranted Traffic Officers |
| Ex Regulation 24 (former sworn now non-sworn) employees |
| Police Matrons |
| Technical Support Unit Operatives |
Permanent Temporary Constables who are employed as:
|
How was TPD covered in the previous Group Life Policy?
Under the previous Constabulary Group Life Insurance policy, Total and Permanent Disability was defined as:
For Insured Persons aged sixty four (64) years or younger, either:
A. the loss of two limbs or the sight of both eyes or the loss of one limb and the sight of one eye (where limb is defined as the whole hand or the whole foot and loss means loss by permanent severance or irrecoverable use); or
B. a disability suffered solely through Injury or Illness which has prevented the Insured Person from engaging in the normal duties of his / her Employment for a continuous period of three (3) months and which in the opinion of the Company, after the Insured Person having undergone all reasonable treatment, including rehabilitation, and after consideration of all medical evidence, has rendered the Insured Person incapable of ever again attending to the normal duties of his / her Employment or to any occupation for which he / she is fitted by knowledge, training or experience.
For Insured Persons aged between sixty five (65) and seventy (70) years:
To be constantly and permanently unable to perform at least two of the Activities of Daily Living without the physical assistance of someone else (if the Insured Person can perform the activity on their own by using special equipment, the Company will not treat the Insured Person as unable to perform that activity).
A Total Permanent Disablement event was defined as:
If an Insured Person becomes Totally and Permanently Disabled while their Insurance Cover under the Policy is in force, the Company will pay the Amount Insured as at the date of the Insured Person’s Last Day of Duty subject to the Company being satisfied that:
A. the Total and Permanent Disablement has directly caused or resulted in the Insured Person ceasing Employment pursuant to Sections 74 or 76 of the Policing Act 2008; and
B. the Total and Permanent Disablement Claim was made within six (6) months of the Last Day of Duty of the Insured Person.
On payment of a Total and Permanent Disablement Claim, all Benefits under the Insured Person’s Insurance Cover will cease. In no circumstances will the Company pay both a Total and Permanent Disablement Benefit and any other Benefit under the Insurance Cover.
Click to view our full update in July 2019
What is the current cover?
We’ve set out the cover that is available in the infographic on this page.
If you need more cover – for example, if your circumstances have changed – contact us to arrange a top-up through our ‘Police Life Extra’ policy.
We recommend all members regularly review what might need to be paid for if they die or become incapacitated
NZ Police Employee Type |
Insurance Category |
Premium paid by NZ Police |
Premium paid by Member |
Total Premium |
Partners covered |
Maximum Partner Cover * | Maximum Individual Cover ** |
Maximum Critical Illness Cover *** |
Constabulary (Welfare member) | A | $10.99 | $9.67 | $20.66 | Yes | $175,000 | $300,000 | $150,000 |
Constabulary (Non-Welfare member) | B | $10.99 | - | $10.99 | No | - | $200,000 | $100,000 |
Police Employee | Employee | - | $6.00 | $6.00 | No | - | $150,000 | - |
- * Requires a nomination form to be signed and submitted identifying the partner. Cover reduces after the age of 55.
- ** Cover reduces after the age of 55.
- *** Cover reduces after the age of 55. See below for critical illness coverage.
For further details of the NZ Police Constabulary Group Life Insurance cover, please refer to the Policy wording available on the Life Insurance page of the Police Association website: policeassn.org.nz or contact Police Welfare Fund Insurances Limited, P O Box 12344, Wellington 6144 or Phone 0800 500 122 between the hours of 8am to 5.30pm Monday – Friday.
View the Constabulary Group Life Brochure
View the Constabulary Group Life Policy Document
FAQs
How do I know if I have been disadvantaged?
There are two main ways that you could have been disadvantaged
- In 2019 when we removed the cover you already had a condition that was likely to give rise to a claim
If in 2019 you had suffered or were suffering an illness or injury that was likely to lead to a TPD claim then the removal of the cover might have cost you the ability to claim then:
We invite you to submit your claim to us and we will assess it against the terms and conditions of the group life policy in force in 2019. If we agree that you would have been paid a claim then we will offer you a welfare grant of the same sum insured on the same conditions.
- Your options have been limited because we didn’t tell you clearly that we had removed the cover
If between 2019 and 2021 your personal situation has changed such that you can no longer get TPD cover on standard terms then:
- If you review your insurance needs and decide that you would like to keep TPD insurance; AND
- You can show us that you can’t get the cover on standard rates and terms elsewhere because of something that has changed in your life between 2019-2021; then
- We will commit to assessing any TPD claim that might in the future occur against the terms and conditions of the policy in force in 2019. If we agree that you would have been paid a claim then we will offer you a welfare grant of the same sum insured on the same conditions.
- We reserve the right to charge you a premium for this.