Calculator
Disability Income Gap Calculator
Estimate whether group disability coverage, individual benefits, and bridge savings could cover essential expenses if work income stops.
Scenario
Income details
Start with essential monthly spending, then test whether group coverage and bridge savings are enough before adding individual coverage.
Monthly cash flow
Benefit estimate
Waiting-period bridge
Gap estimate
Disability income gap
Monthly essentials gap after benefits
$2,300
The current setup leaves about $2,300 a month of essential-expense gap after benefits begin, plus roughly $15,100 of waiting-period shortfall after current savings.
Net benefit
$4,400
35% of gross monthly income.
Bridge shortfall
$15,100
Waiting-period gap after savings.
First-year gap
$35,800
Modeled 12-month pressure after savings.
Gap view
Compare expenses, support after benefits, the remaining monthly gap, and the waiting-period bridge.
After benefits begin
Before benefits begin
How to use this disability income calculator
Use this as a disability-income checkpoint. It helps separate the monthly essentials gap from the savings bridge needed before benefits begin.
Budget
Start with essentials
Use the monthly costs the household would still need to carry if work income stopped or dropped sharply.
Benefit
Model spendable income
Group long-term disability can help, but caps and taxes may leave a gap before any individual coverage is added.
Bridge
Check the waiting period
The elimination period can create a separate savings need before longer-term benefits start paying.
1
Enter the monthly household picture
Start with gross income, essential expenses, and any income that would keep coming in during a work interruption.
2
Use actual coverage details when you can
Benefit percentage, monthly caps, tax treatment, and waiting period are usually in the employer or individual policy documents. Self-employed owners may need to start with no group benefit.
3
Read both gaps together
A plan can cover the ongoing monthly budget and still leave a bridge problem, or cover the bridge while leaving a monthly shortfall.
About this tool
What this helps you do
This calculator compares essential monthly expenses with continuing income, estimated disability benefits, taxes, and bridge savings.
How to interpret results
Focus on the two pressures: the waiting-period shortfall before benefits begin and the ongoing monthly gap after benefits begin.
Coverage notes
Disability coverage depends on plan documents, benefit definitions, caps, exclusions, tax treatment, and whether coverage remains tied to the job. Self-employed and small-business owners may need a different starting assumption.
Limitations
This model does not quote insurance, test claim eligibility, model benefit duration, price premiums, or replace a review of actual policy language.