Question
What exactly does Northwestern mean by “not gainfully employed in any occupation”?
I live in New York and have Northwestern Mutual with lifetime benefits. After age 65, my policy states the following, “The insured is totally disabled when he is unable to perform the principal duties of his occupation and is not gainfully employed in any occupation”. What exactly does Northwestern mean by “not gainfully employed in any occupation”? This is confusing because my policy does not define the words “Gainfully”, “Employed” nor “Occupation”. Does this mean that I cannot make any amount of money doing anything? Taking this to an extreme, would I forfeit my lifetime benefits, if a friend paid me $20 for baby sitting or made $100 doing a garage sale? Would baby sitting or having a tag sale be considered an occupation?
Answer
Carol, Gainful work would imply you are performing steady work for payment and getting paid $20 for baby sitting and receiving $100 from a garage sale would not qualify. If you are concerned you may not qualify for benefits beyond age 65 due to activities that you believe could be considered gainful employment you should contact one of our attorneys to review your policy and discuss your options.
