What does a "living benefit" from a life insurance policy refer to?

A "living benefit" from a life insurance policy primarily refers to an accelerated benefit provided for a terminal illness. This feature allows the policyholder to access a portion of the death benefit while still alive if they are diagnosed with a terminal illness. This can be crucial for individuals facing significant medical expenses or wanting to ensure their financial needs and those of their families are met during their final days.

This option is recognized as a living benefit because it provides financial support during the policyholder's lifetime, in contrast to traditional benefits that are only accessed upon the policyholder's death. Such benefits can alleviate the burden of paying for healthcare or other expenses that may arise in the final stages of life.

In terms of the other options, interest accrued on cash value is related to the growth of the investment component of certain life insurance policies but does not provide immediate benefits during the policyholder's life. Funds used for premiums refer to the payments made to maintain the policy, but they do not represent a benefit. Lastly, a return of premium upon policy surrender is not considered a living benefit because it is contingent upon surrendering the policy and does not offer support while the insured is still living.