An employee who owns an individual Disability Income policy is injured in an automobile accident and files Proof of Loss with the insurance company. Under the Payment of Claims provision in the policy, the company will likely pay the policy benefits to the:

The employer is not the recipient of the benefits under an individual Disability Income policy. The purpose of such a policy is to provide income replacement to the individual insured, not to compensate their employer for lost productivity or wages.

While it is possible for the insured to assign benefits to their physician, this is not the default procedure under the Payment of Claims provision. Unless specifically stated in the policy or agreed upon, benefits are generally paid directly to the insured rather than the physician.

A beneficiary typically receives benefits from life insurance policies upon the death of the insured. In the case of Disability Income insurance, however, benefits are intended for the insured while they are alive and unable to work due to disability, thus the beneficiary is not applicable in this situation.