
Income Protection Insurance
Replace up to 70% of your income if illness or injury stops you working. Keep paying your mortgage, bills, and living expenses.
Why You Need Income Protection
Statutory sick pay is just £123.25 per week — could you pay your mortgage, bills, and feed your family on that? Income protection replaces up to 70% of your income if you're unable to work due to any illness or injury. It's the safety net that keeps your life on track when health doesn't go to plan. It's especially vital for self-employed workers and contractors who don't receive employer sick pay. For a one-off lump sum on diagnosis of a serious condition, critical illness cover is the alternative. You should also ensure you have life insurance and buildings insurance in place to fully protect your home and family.
Replaces up to 70% of your income if you're too ill or injured to work
Covers any illness or injury — not just specific conditions like critical illness
Pays out monthly, covering mortgage payments, bills, and living expenses
Especially important for the self-employed who don't get statutory sick pay
Policies pay out until you recover, retire, or the policy term ends
Premiums can be fixed or reviewable — we'll help you compare suitable options
Who Needs Income Protection Most?
Self-Employed Workers
No statutory sick pay means zero income from day one of illness. Income protection is essential.
Sole Earners
If your family depends on one income, losing it to illness could be devastating.
Contractors & Freelancers
No work = no pay. Income protection bridges the gap until you can return.
Mortgage Holders
Your mortgage doesn't pause when you're ill. Income protection keeps payments covered.
Income Protection FAQs
Sources for the statistics on this page
- Statutory Sick Pay is £123.25 a week (or 80% of average weekly earnings if lower) and is paid for up to 28 weeks — GOV.UK — Statutory Sick Pay (figure checked September 2026)
- Self-employed people are not eligible for Statutory Sick Pay — GOV.UK — Statutory Sick Pay eligibility (figure checked September 2026)
- Income protection typically covers up to around 70% of gross income — this is the usual maximum set by insurers, not a guarantee — Insurer product literature across our protection panel (figure checked September 2026)
Figures are for general information only and may change. They are not a personal recommendation or a quotation. Premiums, cover levels and eligibility depend on your own circumstances and the insurer's terms.
Get a Free Income Protection Quote
Tell us about your situation and we'll help you find suitable cover — free initial advice.
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A few details about you
This helps us identify suitable cover and pricing options.
