Every layer
of protection.
Income, health, life, road, disability, savings. Twelve pages of interactive tools, real 2026 figures and a decision wizard that tells you which cover actually matters for your situation.
The atlas of protection
Sixteen concepts across five layers. Click any card for 2026 figures; arrows show how they interact.
How much income survives?
Set your assumptions, then watch the bars fill month by month. Lump sums are handled on the Journey page.
The 36-month journey
Pick a scenario, then scrub the timeline. This view includes once-off lump sums — critical illness, life cover, RAF general damages.
What cover do you need?
Answer five questions. The wizard maps your situation to the cover that actually matters for you — no jargon, no upsell.
What does it cost?
Rough 2026 market estimates for the main covers. Real quotes vary by insurer, health, occupation and underwriting — use these as ballpark figures only.
What gets taxed?
Benefits are taxed very differently. Some are free; some are taxed as income; some fall into the retirement table. Know which is which before you claim.
Retirement lump-sum table (2026/27)
Applies to pension, provident, preservation and retirement annuity lump sums.
Marginal income tax (2026/27)
Applies to two-pot savings-pot withdrawals and income protection benefits.
Medical tax credits (2026)
Offsets against tax payable for medical scheme members.
Retirement drawdown (living annuity)
Taxed at marginal rates once total income exceeds the annual rebate thresholds.
| Benefit | Tax treatment | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| UIF benefit | Tax-free | No PAYE deducted at source. |
| COIDA benefit | Tax-free | Both temporary and permanent disablement payments. |
| RAF award | Tax-free | Loss of income and general damages are not taxed. |
| SASSA grants | Tax-free | Social grants are excluded from taxable income. |
| Income protection benefit | Taxed as income | Taxed at marginal rates if premiums were deducted. |
| Group income benefit | Taxed as income | Same treatment as individual IP. |
| Life cover payout | Tax-free | Paid to beneficiaries free of estate duty if nominated correctly. |
| Critical illness payout | Tax-free | Lump sum is not taxable in the hands of the insured. |
| Funeral cover payout | Tax-free | Cash benefit is not taxable. |
| Medical scheme contributions | Tax credit | Claimed via the medical tax credit, not a deduction. |
| Gap cover premium | No benefit | Premiums are not tax-deductible. |
| Two-pot savings withdrawal | Marginal rate | 18%–45% depending on total income. |
| Retirement lump sum | Retirement table | First R550,000 tax-free. |
| Living annuity drawdown | Marginal rate | Above annual rebate thresholds. |
What actually pays?
Every life event against every source of cover. Green means fully covered, amber means partial, red means nothing pays. Hover a cell for details.
What changed when
The rules behind these numbers move every year. Here are the recent and upcoming changes that matter most.
Plain-English definitions
The jargon that shows up in policy documents, decoded. Search any term.
Every source, one table
Monthly income, lump sums, grants and savings — compared on funding, eligibility, payout, duration and tax.
| Source | Layer | Funded by | Eligibility | Typical payout | Duration | Tax |
|---|
Where do you stand?
Nine questions covering income, health, life and road cover. Your answers are saved on this device.