Illness
A health problem — usually disease or disorder, mental or physical, often ongoing.
Ladder step 1: What happened — What words do you naturally use to describe it?
This is
- Broader than a single sick day
- Covers depression, cancer, chronic pain, autoimmune disease, etc.
This is not
- Automatically the same as ' injury '
- The same as policy ' disability '
ClaimBuddy resources
Cross-links to Clinical Atlas, glossary, traps, and policy terms — hover for a quick summary.
How do you know?
Practical signs that this term applies to your situation — not legal advice.
- Symptoms persist beyond a short sick spell — weeks, months, or episodic relapse.
- A doctor names or treats a condition (even before formal diagnosis).
- Health affects daily life, not only one missed shift.
What triggers it?
Events or thresholds that typically activate this concept in a claim.
- Referral to specialist, starting long-term medication, or ongoing therapy.
- Gradual worsening at work — concentration, stamina, attendance, reliability.
- Illness alone does not trigger IP benefits — duty incapacity does.
Check yourself
Highlighted words link to language-map explainers.
- When did I first notice symptoms — and when did core job tasks become impossible?
- Am I describing the health problem , or whether I can still do my occupation ?
- Could I still do my job on good days even while 'ill' ?
Date ladder
These dates are rarely the same day — capture each one separately in ClaimBuddy.
- Symptom onset When you first noticed the health problem
- Stopped performing duties When illness stopped you doing core work — often your DOA
- First diagnosis Medical label may come weeks or months later
How this links to other terms
Illness is ongoing health; sickness is often short and casual.
Doctors give diagnoses; you may feel ill before or without a label.
You can be ill before policy incapacity begins — capture both dates.
Symptoms are what you experience; illness is how you describe the problem.
Insurers need illness linked to duties — not illness alone.
Evidence
Diagnosis , treatment records, specialist letters
Often mixed with
Confusion drill-downs
Side-by-side guides for pairs people mix up with Illness.
"My illness started after a stressful project period."