Terminal illness
An illness or condition expected to result in death within 24 months (12 months in CT, FL, PA and NY).
- No waiting period
- Paid as one lump sum
Living Benefits
A lifeline,
not just a legacy.
Life insurance isn't only about leaving something behind. With Living Benefits, you can access a portion of your policy if you face a qualifying condition — a financial safety net for life's hardest moments.
1
You're diagnosed with a qualifying condition
2
You request an accelerated benefit
3
Funds go to what you need most
51%
of Americans carry medical debt or have unpaid medical bills1
47%
would feel the financial impact within 6 months if a main earner died2
2 million
new cancer cases projected in the U.S. in 20253
$405,262
lifetime cost of care for a person living with Alzheimer's dementia4
Real stories
The power of
Living Benefits.
See how Living Benefits helped real families get through some of life's hardest moments.
Videos courtesy of National Life Group and The Legacy Code (YouTube). Individual results vary.
How it works
Benefits you can use
during your lifetime.
Living Benefits come from Accelerated Benefit Riders (ABRs) added to a life insurance policy. If you qualify, you can receive part of your death benefit early — while you're still here to use it.
✓
No additional cost
Where available, the riders are optional and can be included with term and permanent policies at no extra charge.
✦
Use it your way
Once you qualify, the money is generally yours to use for anything — no receipts required. (In Massachusetts, chronic illness benefits are limited to qualified long-term care costs.)
∞
No annual limit
There's no yearly cap — just one lifetime limit across all of your accelerated benefits. If you never use them, your full death benefit stays in place.
Qualifying events
Five ways your policy
can help while you're living.
If one of these happens, you may be able to access part of your death benefit early, paid on a discounted basis. Exact definitions and availability vary by state.
Not every policy includes every rider. Availability depends on the product, state, underwriting decision, and policy provisions. Someone can be approved for life insurance and still have certain Living Benefits riders excluded — I'll show you exactly which ones your policy includes.
Chronic illness
A doctor certifies you can't perform two of six activities of daily living without help for 90 days — or you need substantial supervision for at least 90 days because of severe cognitive impairment.
Activities of daily living
- Bathing
- Continence
- Dressing
- Eating
- Toileting
- Transferring
Alzheimer's & Lewy Body Dementia
A qualifying diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease or Lewy Body Dementia lets you access a portion of your death benefit.
Not available if a parent or sibling has a history of Alzheimer's disease.
Critical injury
A qualifying condition caused by an injury. The benefit is based on how the condition affects your life expectancy.
- Coma
- Paralysis
- Severe burns
- Traumatic brain injury
Critical illness
A qualifying diagnosis. The benefit is based on how the illness affects your life expectancy.
- ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease)
- Aorta graft surgery
- Aplastic anemia
- Blindness*
- Cancer*
- Cystic fibrosis
- End-stage renal failure
- Heart attack
- Heart valve replacement
- Major organ transplant
- Motor neuron disease
- Stroke
- Sudden cardiac arrest
*Blindness doesn't qualify in CT, IL, KS, MD, MA, MN, NJ, NY, OH, PA, UT, VA or WA. In California, only invasive cancer qualifies.
Chronic illness, critical illness and critical injury benefits begin once the rider has been in force for 30 days. Claims for critical illness or injury must be filed within 365 days of the event. In California, the critical illness, critical injury and Alzheimer's riders require health insurance coverage, and critical illness and injury are available for issue ages 0–64.
Living Benefits could be used for — but are not limited to
- Household expenses
- Regular bills
- In-home care
- Assisted living care
- Adult day care
- Home modifications
- Nursing home care
- Quality-of-life expenses
- A lifelong dream vacation
When it makes a difference
Support through life's
toughest health events.
Cancer
A diagnosis brings surgeries, chemotherapy, medications and ongoing care. Living Benefits can help cover these costs so you can focus on treatment and recovery instead of bills.
Stroke
Recovery may require rehabilitation, therapy or long-term care. Financial relief helps you afford the support you need to regain independence and quality of life.
Heart attack
Hospital stays, lifestyle changes and time away from work. Living Benefits can replace lost income and cover medical costs while you recover.
Chronic illness
When a condition limits daily activities, funds can pay for caregiving, home modifications or ongoing medical needs — living with dignity.
Critical illness
Organ failure or major surgery can disrupt every part of life. Funds help you manage expenses and stay secure while you focus on your health.
Critical injury
A coma, paralysis, severe burns or a traumatic brain injury can change life overnight. Funds can help with rehabilitation, home changes and lost income while you adapt.
Terminal illness
Ease the burden of end-of-life care, provide comfort for your family, and spend meaningful time together without financial stress.
Alzheimer's
Dementia can gradually affect memory and independence. Funds can pay for caregiving, assisted living or home modifications for long-term needs.
How Living Benefits help
Your policy becomes
support for today.
✚
Paying medical bills and treatments
Hospital stays, surgeries, medications and even alternative treatments. Instead of worrying about how to afford care, you can focus on healing and recovery.
⌂
Covering monthly expenses and the mortgage
When health issues stop you from working, bills don't stop. Funds keep the household running — rent or mortgage, utilities, groceries and other essentials.
✈
Travel to see family — or return home to the Philippines
Being close to loved ones during difficult times is priceless. Living Benefits can help pay for travel, across the country or back home to be surrounded by support and care.
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Time off work to focus on recovery
Healing takes time. Living Benefits can replace lost income, giving you the freedom to rest and regain strength without added financial strain.
Living Benefits vs. long-term care insurance
Not the same thing —
and that's the point.
Accelerated benefits are not long-term care insurance and aren't meant to replace it. They're a feature of a life insurance policy, so they only make sense if you also need life insurance.
Living Benefits (ABRs)
- Part of a life insurance policy with a death benefit
- Paid once you qualify — no receipts needed
- Generally use the money for anything
- If never used, the death benefit stays in place
Long-term care insurance
- Not life insurance — no death benefit or cash value
- Reimburses qualified long-term care expenses
- Benefits set when the contract is written
- If never claimed, benefits are usually forfeited
Making a claim
With you
every step of the way.
You can start a claim through me — I'll help you gather everything and stay with you until payment arrives.
- 1
Start the claim
Reach out to me, or contact the insurance company directly through its app, web portal, email or phone.
- 2
A claims examiner reviews it
They look at the claim, your policy history, the contract and the rider terms.
- 3
Payment is issued
Once approved, the company sends payment and contacts you to confirm it arrived.
What you'll need
- Insured's name, phone and email
- Policy number
- Date the condition or illness began
- Details of the condition or event
- Which benefit you want to access
National Life claims
- Phone800-732-8939
- EmailClaims@nationallife.com
- OnlineNationalLife.com/Contact-Claims
- AppCustomer app or web portal
Why it matters
It's not just about protecting your family's future. It's about protecting your present — so if life takes an unexpected turn, you stay secure, supported, and focused on what truly matters: health, family and recovery.
Important details
Accelerated benefit payments reduce the policy's cash value and/or death benefit. Receiving them may be a taxable event, may affect eligibility for public assistance programs, and may reduce or end other policy and rider benefits — please talk with a tax advisor and the relevant agencies. The benefit amount is calculated when you submit a claim and depends on factors such as your death benefit, future premiums, the age of the policy, the accelerated benefits interest rate and life expectancy. Riders are optional and may not be available in all states or on all products; for term policies, the ability to accelerate ends when the policy ends. These benefits are not long-term care insurance, not a California Partnership for Long-Term Care policy, and not a Medicare supplement. Guarantees depend on the claims-paying ability of the issuing company. This is not a solicitation of any specific policy.
All sources & links · Sources: 1 Debt.com Medical Debt Survey, Apr 2025. 2 LIMRA & Life Happens, 2025 Insurance Barometer Study. 3 American Cancer Society, Cancer Facts & Figures 2025. 4 Alzheimer's Association, 2025 Alzheimer's Disease Facts and Figures. Rider details summarized from National Life Group's “Life Insurance with Living Benefits” brochure (Cat. No. 62824).
Let's protect what matters most.
A free, no-pressure 30-minute call to find coverage that fits your family.