Insured Life

Protect Your Income - Protect Your Future

If illness or injury stops you working, income protection ensures the bills are still paid. Compare top UK insurers in minutes — free & no obligation.

What is Income Protection?

Income Protection Insurance provides a regular monthly income if you’re unable to work due to illness, injury, or sometimes redundancy (depending on your policy). It’s designed to replace a portion of your wage — typically 50–70% — until you’re fit to return to work or until your policy ends.

While many people believe Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) would cover them, SSP is currently low and only lasts for a limited time. Income protection fills that gap, covering essential expenses such as rent or mortgage payments, utility bills, childcare, food, and debt repayments.

At Insured Life, we compare policies from the UK’s top insurers to help you find affordable, flexible protection built around your job, lifestyle and financial commitments.

Choose your level of cover

You decide how much of your income you want to protect — usually up to 70%. This payout is tax-free and designed to cover essential expenses, not replace your full wage.

Select waiting period
Also known as a “deferred period”, this is how long you wait before payments begin. Common options include 4, 8, 13 or 26 weeks.
Pick your policy length
Most income protection plans pay out until
You return to work
Your policy ends (e.g. age 60 or 65)
You reach retirement
Trusted

We have provided income protection for 100's of families across the UK, with excellent reviews on Google and TrustPilot.

Key Features to Compare Before Buying Income Protection

Definition of Incapacity

This is crucial:

  • Own Occupation – Best. You’re covered if you can’t do your specific job
  • Suited Occupation – You must be unable to perform similar jobs
  • Any Occupation  – Least favourable.

Monthly Benefit

How much you’ll receive each month. Ensure it covers key bills.

Deferred Period

The shorter it is, the faster you get paid — but the higher the cost.

Indexation Options

Increasing benefits protect your income against inflation.

Benefit Period

Short-term (1–2 years) vs long-term (to retirement age).

Premium Type

  • Guaranteed premiums stay fixed.
  • Reviewable premiums may rise over time.
  • Age-rated premiums increase gradually each year.

How to get Income Protection

Fill in our form

Just a few simple questions that should take no more 1 minute to complete.

We'll call you

One of our team will call you to discuss your cover needs in more detail.

Choose your cover

We will share with you the best cover for your needs from the market. Once you confirm we will take care of the rest. Simple.

Who Needs Income Protection Insurance?

Income Protection is ideal for anyone who relies on their income to pay the bills – which is almost everyone.
Self Employed Workers
No employer sick pay means income protection is often your only safety net.
Employees with limited sick pay
If you only receive Statutory Sick Pay or a short period of enhanced sick pay, this cover protects you after your employer’s support ends.
Families & Parents
Your income supports more than just you — it keeps your home running and provides stability for your children.
Single Income Households
If you’re the main or only earner, losing your income could cause immediate financial strain.
Homeowners & Renters
Mortgage or rent payments still need to be made, even if you’re unable to work.
People with loans
Income protection ensures you never fall behind on essential payments.

How Much Does Income Protection Cost?

Premiums vary depending on your job, health and the level of cover you choose. Here’s what affects the cost:

Insurers categorise jobs by risk. Office workers are typically cheaper to insure than manual or hazardous roles.

  • Shorter waiting periods = higher premiums

  • Longer waiting periods = lower premiums

Protecting 70% of your income costs more than protecting 50%.

Younger, healthier applicants generally pay the lowest premiums.

Smokers usually pay more for cover.

Income Protection FAQs

How much income can I protect?

Most insurers will cover up to 50–70% of your pre-tax earnings. This keeps premiums affordable while ensuring you can cover essential bills.

How long does income protection pay out for?

Depending on your policy, it can pay for 1–2 years (short-term) or right up to retirement age (long-term). Long-term cover offers greater security.

Is redundancy covered?

Most modern income protection policies focus on illness and injury only. Some providers offer separate redundancy protection, but availability is limited.

Do I need income protection if I get sick pay?

Employee sick pay can be helpful, but many employers only provide limited support. Most people align their waiting period with their sick-pay schedule for seamless protection.

Can self-employed people get income protection?

Yes — and it’s often one of the most important financial products for the self-employed. It replaces lost income when you have no employer safety net.

How are claims assessed?

Insurers typically request medical evidence, doctor’s notes, and details of how your condition affects your ability to work.

What happens if I recover and later become ill again?

If it’s a new claim or your policy allows multiple claims, your insurer will assess it again. Long-term policies often provide multiple claims for unrelated conditions.

Why Choose Insured Life for Income Protection?

Choosing the right income protection policy can be complex — but we make it simple. As an independent broker, Insured Life compares policies from many of the UK’s leading insurers to find the best match for your job, lifestyle and budget.

You’ll get personalised advice, help understanding key policy definitions and full support during your application, with no fees and no obligation. Because we compare multiple insurers, many customers save money versus going directly to an insurer.

Our service is friendly, expert-led and completely transparent. We cut through jargon so you understand exactly what you’re getting — and how it protects you when it matters most.

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