Afternoon all, I have a question which I think is relevant to every one of us to some degree; is there any insurance provider which would cover loss of licence? I know Unite run such a scheme but this is not offered by our recognised Union (I am presently lobbying them to get this reinstated as it was allegedly withdrawn due to the cost of the premiums).
Considering how donald ducked many LGV licence holders would be with their only source of income removed and left at the mercy of the benefits system, it is scandalous that such protection is so hard / prohibitively expensive to come by. This was brought home when a colleague had his licence revoked some months ago and is still running the gauntlet of universal credit while waiting for the DVLA and NHS to review his case. Any information please? Thanks guys
A very clever point being posted here.
Il be very interested to follow this discussion .
There is:
“loss of driving licence insurance”
Third one down and a few more will give you some info on prices
The thing is that if your licence was permanently revoked at age 50 and you were looking for your wages to be covered until retirement then the insurance company would be looking at paying out nearly half a million quid. Premiums to cover a risk like that are never going to be cheap.
Lobby your fellow union members to change union?
Southpaw1971:
Afternoon all, I have a question which I think is relevant to every one of us to some degree; is there any insurance provider which would cover loss of licence? I know Unite run such a scheme but this is not offered by our recognised Union (I am presently lobbying them to get this reinstated as it was allegedly withdrawn due to the cost of the premiums).
Considering how donald ducked many LGV licence holders would be with their only source of income removed and left at the mercy of the benefits system, it is scandalous that such protection is so hard / prohibitively expensive to come by. This was brought home when a colleague had his licence revoked some months ago and is still running the gauntlet of universal credit while waiting for the DVLA and NHS to review his case. Any information please? Thanks guys
Would this “colleague” also happen to be called southpaw1971 on certain internet forums? 
There is a very good insurance provider available for such issues. It’s called “the driver”. Drive legal (including your health) + ensure the vehicle is legal = no licence revocation. Simple. 
Mick Bracewell, if what you mean is, is the “colleague” and the OP (myself) the same person, then no, sorry to disappoint. As a workforce representative I ask many questions on behalf of colleagues, on several forums. If this is the best advice you can offer to a fellow driver’s misfortune (and believe me, the guy is not in a good place) I would rather you kept it to yourself.
Mick Bracewell:
There is a very good insurance provider available for such issues. It’s called “the driver”. Drive legal (including your health) + ensure the vehicle is legal = no licence revocation. Simple.
Unfortunately it is not possible to self-insure against health problems by living a virtuous lifestyle. This chap, who I went to school with, dropped dead at the gym aged 53.
Thanks for all the other replies, much appreciated. I know it wouldn’t be viable for an insurer to cover loss of licence indefinitely but a lump sum payout of say, 3 months wages would go a long way while DVLA/NHS get their act together. Changing union may be an option but comes with its own challenges which would need to be weighed in the context of our own workplace’s needs. However I feel really strongly that this event of licence loss should be covered from somewhere, given the hardships which could result.
What was the colleague’s licence revoked for ?
There are loads of health issues which could put you out of the job which won’t automatically mean loss of licence.
You’ll also still be caught in the catch 22 of DWP definition of ‘incapacity’ ( which effectively means paralysed from the neck down or a short term terminal illness.
You need income protection insurance which covers any type of medical problem which stops you doing your specific occuptation.
Trust me many types of diagnosis, especially back issues, are sufficient to fail just about every risk assessment going outside of a clerical office worker environment.While even the best cover can still leave holes in the safety net big enough to drive a bus through.
Specific licence cover would just make those holes larger.Being a false economy and a false sense of security.
Quite a few medical conditions might be covered by income protection insurance, but trouble is there are lots of delays, clauses and its insanely expensive for this job as we are apparently high risk.
As for union cover, it might be simpler to join 2 unions. One for your job and the other for the insurance. Very likely a lot cheaper than getting it yourself even if paying 2 subs.
Carryfast:
There are loads of health issues which could put you out of the job which won’t automatically mean loss of licence.
You’ll also still be caught in the catch 22 of DWP definition of ‘incapacity’ ( which effectively means paralysed from the neck down or a short term terminal illness.You need income protection insurance which covers any type of medical problem which stops you doing your specific occuptation.
Trust me many types of diagnosis, especially back issues, are sufficient to fail just about every risk assessment going outside of a clerical office worker environment.While even the best cover can still leave holes in the safety net big enough to drive a bus through.Specific licence cover would just make those holes larger.Being a false economy and a false sense of security.
Agree that income protection insurance is well worth looking at.
Be like any kind of health insurance etc.
Your pay in for years then when you need.it your maybe lucky to get back what you paid in.
Be better just setting aside an amount each month . Try find am account that pays interest or open an ISA.
My gran.for years paid into some.kind of funeral cover plan she dies premiums paid out got 4 k or something.
But when you sat and.worked out what she paid in every month for 20 years .not worth it.
edd1974:
Be like any kind of health insurance etc.
Your pay in for years then when you need.it your maybe lucky to get back what you paid in.
Be better just setting aside an amount each month . Try find am account that pays interest or open an ISA.My gran.for years paid into some.kind of funeral cover plan she dies premiums paid out got 4 k or something.
But when you sat and.worked out what she paid in every month for 20 years .not worth it.
Pre paying or insuring your funeral expenses is a generational/responsible thing, for parents who don’t wish to be a burden on their offspring in the fullness of time, few know for sure when they are going to die, your child(ren) could be at a crisis point in their own lives without a ha’penny to scratch their arse with, a whopping bill to bury you when you are gone is something you don’t want to see them saddled with.
Whatever happens to me and the good lady we’ll always make sure there’s enough money left (even after what is coming) to get shot of our remains.
The thing with insuring your funeral ex’s as against leaving enough, or pre paying, is that at the end if there’s a hint you aided your own ending would the insurance pay out?
I tend to agree with you about some of the other insurances, insuring your income as such is ridiculouly expensive, house/mortgage/life/critical illness cover are usually affordable but guaranteeing your income is something else entirely.
Self insuring, as you rightly mention a good system for many, requires a cool sensible head, maybe not the ideal for the must have it all now mindset who can’t save 10 bob without it burning a hole in their pocket.
Juddian:
edd1974:
Be like any kind of health insurance etc.
Your pay in for years then when you need.it your maybe lucky to get back what you paid in.
Be better just setting aside an amount each month . Try find am account that pays interest or open an ISA.My gran.for years paid into some.kind of funeral cover plan she dies premiums paid out got 4 k or something.
But when you sat and.worked out what she paid in every month for 20 years .not worth it.Pre paying or insuring your funeral expenses is a generational/responsible thing, for parents who don’t wish to be a burden on their offspring in the fullness of time, few know for sure when they are going to die, your child(ren) could be at a crisis point in their own lives without a ha’penny to scratch their arse with, a whopping bill to bury you when you are gone is something you don’t want to see them saddled with.
Whatever happens to me and the good lady we’ll always make sure there’s enough money left (even after what is coming) to get shot of our remains.
The thing with insuring your funeral ex’s as against leaving enough, or pre paying, is that at the end if there’s a hint you aided your own ending would the insurance pay out?I tend to agree with you about some of the other insurances, insuring your income as such is ridiculouly expensive, house/mortgage/life/critical illness cover are usually affordable but guaranteeing your income is something else entirely.
Self insuring, as you rightly mention a good system for many, requires a cool sensible head, maybe not the ideal for the must have it all now mindset who can’t save 10 bob without it burning a hole in their pocket.
With funeral expenses, they have never left anyone on top or waiting for a conveyor belt
12hr15 BBC R4 are about to look at income insurance apparently.
edd1974:
Be like any kind of health insurance etc.
Your pay in for years then when you need.it your maybe lucky to get back what you paid in.
Be better just setting aside an amount each month . Try find am account that pays interest or open an ISA.
Ironically that is absolutely correct in the case of the cover you get from social security and state pension in return for tax and NI contributions.
Not having income protection insurance is as financially suicidal as not having mortgage protection insurance and life insurance and house insurance and travel insurance for foreign trips.
Setting aside ‘a bit’ each month in an environment of negative interest rates and losing your job in your 40’s to health problems is sort of moot regarding having to meet a 6 figure financial hit to your income prospects and budget.
Saving 100 pm for 45 years would only provide around £55,000 so long as you only get ill on your retirement.As opposed to when you’re 40 in which case you’ll only have around 20 years worth of savings reducing that figure by around half.Good luck with that.
Remind me how much are those income protection premiums.
Harry Monk:
The thing is that if your licence was permanently revoked at age 50 and you were looking for your wages to be covered until retirement then the insurance company would be looking at paying out nearly half a million quid. Premiums to cover a risk like that are never going to be cheap.
They’ll usually just apply a capped lump sum payment in the event of a permanent loss of job situation.I’d guess probably around 200 grand by today’s prices.
They’ll probably also make a fight about it needing a difficult drawn out battle eventually forcing the claimant to settle for a lot less than even that.
Still far far better than relying on the mercies of the DWP even if someone did by some miracle satisfy their laughable definition of ‘incapacity’ for ‘work’.
This is a no brainer.If i were you i would join Unite.I know unions get a bashing here.If you look at them they offer more everyday things .You could push for the one you have to change the benefits.If more of you make enough noise they may be afraid of loosing members.