What is income protection?

Income protection replaces a percentage of your salary — typically up to 70% — if you can't work due to illness or injury. It pays out monthly, just like a salary, until you're well enough to return to work, or until your chosen retirement age if needed.

Statutory sick pay is £116.75 per week. For most people, that doesn't cover a mortgage, bills, and everyday costs. Income protection fills that gap.

It's particularly important if you're self-employed, have dependants, or don't have significant savings to fall back on.

Who needs this?
  • You're self-employed and have no employer sick pay
  • You have a mortgage or rent that depends on your income
  • You have dependants who rely on you financially
  • You couldn't survive for long on statutory sick pay alone
What's covered

The detail that matters

Covered
Monthly benefit if you can't work due to illness or injury
Pays until you return to work, or until a set end date
Own occupation or any occupation definitions available
Can be indexed to rise with inflation
Not covered
Unemployment due to redundancy (see mortgage protection for this)
Pre-existing conditions not disclosed at application
Claims within the deferred period (typically 4–13 weeks)
Common questions

Things people ask us

What's the deferred period?
What's the difference between own occupation and any occupation?
I'm self-employed — do I need this?
Also Consider

Products that work well alongside this

Life Insurance
Life insurance gives you peace of mind that the people you love will be looked after when you're gone. A policy pays out a lump sum on death, giving your family financial breathing room at the hardest time.
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Fracture Cover
Fracture cover pays you a cash lump sum if you break a bone — no questions about lost earnings, no waiting to prove you can't work. It's fast, simple, and surprisingly affordable.
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Children's Critical Illness
Children's critical illness cover pays out a tax-free lump sum if your child is diagnosed with a serious illness. So that if the worst happens, money is the last thing on your mind.
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