Virtually all Income Protection Insurance policies start paying out once you have been off work for an unbroken period of between one and 180 days The longer you can do without the payment of benefits, the cheaper the cover

With the UK Budget announcement of additional government help for homeowners, now could be the time to start thinking about getting back on the housing ladder With the extra £80m for shared equity schemes and Stamp Duty allowances to be held off for another year, Alistair Darling's Budget announcements are a clear indication of the government's intent to kick-start the housing market

Insurance Underwriters are getting worried The drip feed of ever worsening financial news has exposed the Government's previously optimistic forecasts to be little more than political spin

"You have left it too late" Thousands of people are hearing this every day and experiencing that sinking feeling when they realise something once so freely available, is now denied to them