To be considered totally disabled under a disability income policy, how many months must the insured be unable to perform all duties of their regular occupation?

To be considered totally disabled under a disability income policy, the common industry standard generally requires that the insured must be unable to perform all duties of their regular occupation for a specified period of time. In this case, the correct answer reflects that the insured must be in this condition for 24 months.

This 24-month requirement aligns with the intent of disability policies, which typically aim to ensure that the individual is not only unable to perform their job temporarily but confirms a longer-term inability to engage in the occupational demands expected of them. This time frame helps insurance companies assess the severity and legitimacy of claims and provides a structured way of determining long-term disability benefits.

The other options represent shorter durations that, while they might indicate a significant impairment, do not meet the threshold of total disability necessary for policy benefits.