Miles on foot every morning
A walking round asks a lot of your feet, knees and back. You carry a loaded bag or push a trolley up hills and steps, six days out of seven for some. Ice, uneven paths and the odd unfriendly dog all bring their own injuries.
Inside the mail centre, the work changes. Night shifts, standing at sorting frames and lifting bags and trays bring strains of a different kind. Drivers who load and unload vans have their own mix of risks.
Delivery staff often start before most people wake and finish by early afternoon. That pattern suits family life for many, but early mornings on dark, icy streets bring a higher chance of slips. Insurers will want to know whether you walk, cycle or drive your round.
Sick pay first, then income protection
Permanent postal staff at large employers often get occupational sick pay for a set period. Seasonal and agency staff taken on for busy months usually get statutory sick pay at most.
If you have company sick pay, you can choose a deferred period that starts as it ends, perhaps three or six months. That makes the policy cheaper and avoids paying for cover you would not need.
Some long-serving staff build up longer sick pay entitlements than new starters. If yours grows with service, you may be able to lengthen your deferred period later to save money, if your insurer allows the change.
- Find your sick pay rules in your terms and conditions
- Line up the deferred period with the end of full pay
- Seasonal workers: plan around statutory sick pay
Your round and the claim test
Insurers rate delivery work as manual because of the walking and carrying. That can affect which claim definition they offer. If a knee problem stopped you walking a round but you could still sort mail, the policy wording decides whether it pays.
Own occupation cover tests your actual job. Suited occupation cover asks if you could do other reasonable work. We show you which one each insurer offers for your role.
Years of walking leave many delivery staff with foot and ankle problems such as plantar fasciitis. If you have had treatment, the insurer may ask for details and could apply an exclusion. You would stay covered for other conditions.
Life cover beyond your pension scheme
Some postal employers offer death in service through the pension scheme. Check the amount and remember it ends if you leave. A personal life policy can sit alongside it, sized for your mortgage or family needs, and stays yours if your job changes.
Couples who both work shifts can struggle to find time to plan together. A short call with us can settle the main choices in one go.
Our help costs you nothing, because the insurer pays us commission. You can take your time and ask as many questions as you need before you decide.
Support from Hi Tomorrow
Tell us your round, your hours and your sick pay. We compare insurers on our panel, explain each quote without jargon and help with the application. If you claim later, we help you with that too.