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What is Income Protection

Protect your income if you’re unable to work due to redundancy, illness, or injury. Income Protection acts as a financial safety net, helping you manage everyday expenses when your regular salary stops.

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What is Income Protection Insurance?

Income Protection insurance pays you a tax-free monthly amount if you lose your income due to redundancy or are unable to work because of an accident, illness, or injury.

Instead of relying on savings or government support, this cover helps ensure you can continue paying essential bills like rent, utilities, and groceries while you recover or search for a new job.

Why is Income Protection Insurance important in the current UK job market?

Unexpected events can happen at any time. Job losses, long-term illness, or injuries can instantly stop your income, even if you’ve never experienced this before.

Government support such as Job Seeker’s Allowance or Statutory Sick Pay is often not enough to cover basic living costs. Income Protection bridges this gap by providing regular monthly payments, giving you financial breathing space during uncertain times.

What’s the difference between Income Protection insurance, Redundancy Protection insurance, and Critical Illness Insurance?

Benefits of Our Insurance

Flexible monthly benefits

Tax-free payouts

Peace of mind

Who needs Income Protection Insurance?

Income Protection insurance is for anyone who depends on a regular income to cover essential living costs such as rent, bills, food, or family expenses, and would struggle financially if that income stopped suddenly. It is especially useful for those with limited savings, little or no employer sick pay, or non-permanent employment arrangements, but even people in stable jobs can benefit, as redundancy, illness, or injury can happen unexpectedly. The cover provides reassurance that you can continue meeting everyday expenses without relying on savings, credit, or government support during difficult periods.

How soon will my Income Protection payments start?

Income protection payments usually begin after a chosen waiting period, which is the time between when you stop working and when your policy starts paying out. This waiting period can vary depending on the policy you select and helps determine the overall cost of cover, with longer waiting periods generally resulting in lower premiums. Choosing the right waiting period depends on how long you could manage using savings, employer support, or other income before needing financial help from your policy.

Key Features

Claim periods & policy terms

You can usually claim for up to 6 or 12 months, depending on the income protection policy. Policies typically exclude pre-existing conditions, substance use, self-harm, and voluntary unemployment. If you have complex health needs, a tailored policy may be best

Cover for three key risks

Protection against redundancy, illness, and injury.

Custom benefit amount

Cover up to 65% of your gross annual income.

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Claim Your Insurance

To file an income protection insurance claim, contact your claim administrator immediately using the details in your policy. They’ll guide you through the process, including forms and required documents. Claims typically take around 30 days; if delayed, follow up with your insurer. For excessive delays or unfair denials, escalate to the Financial Ombudsman Service.

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How does income protection insurance work?

You choose a monthly benefit amount when taking out the policy. If you’re unable to work due to redundancy, illness, or injury, the policy pays out after the agreed waiting period.
Payments continue until you return to work or reach the maximum claim period.

How much does income protection insurance cost?

Several factors can affect how much your income protection insurance costs, including:

  • Your age (with higher premiums for older policyholders)
  • Your job (for example, someone who works in a high-risk job like construction would pay more than someone who works a job that’s comparatively lower-risk)
  • Your salary (this affects how much money you could claim a month, which affects what you have to pay to keep your cover)
  • Your health (you might pay more if you smoke, for example, and pre-existing conditions will always be excluded)
  • Your lifestyle (if you go skydiving on your weekends, for example, you’ll probably pay more than someone who doesn’t)
  • The length of your excess period (with shorter excess periods costing more and longer ones costing less)
If you want an accurate estimate for what an income protection policy tailored to you might cost, it’s worth contacting a broker directly. You can give Best Insurance a call on 0330 330 9465 to get a quote today!

Comparisons

Eligibility Criteria

Are aged between 18 and 64

Are a permanent UK, Channel Islands, or Isle of Man resident

Have worked over 16 hours per week

Have been with the same employer for at least 6 consecutive months

Peace of Mind in Any Situation

Frequently Asked Questions

Your income protection insurance policy covers your income if you’re too sick or injured to work or if you’ve been made involuntarily unemployed. You agree on an amount you’d like to be paid if this happens — called a ‘benefit’ or ‘benefit amount’  — and if you find yourself unable to work, you make a claim. Your benefit will cover whatever you need it to cover, whether that’s your mortgage payments, your rent, your bills, or even your groceries.

If you successfully make a claim on your income protection insurance policy, you’ll be paid out the benefit amount you selected when you first purchased cover. This will usually be up to either 65% of your income or £2,500.

Yes, income protection insurance is worth the investment, even if you are in the UK. With an income protection insurance policy in your back pocket, you won’t have to rely on your savings, state benefits like Universal Credit (which often aren’t enough to live off of for long), or handouts from loved ones to keep your head above water in the event that you couldn’t work. Think of it like paying into your rainy-day fund; one day, you’ll need it.

What does income protection insurance cover?

It covers redundancy, illness, and injury, providing monthly tax-free payments.

How long do payments last?

Payments are made for up to 12 months per claim.

Can I choose how much I receive?

Yes. You can select a benefit amount based on your essential monthly expenses.

Is the payout tax-free?

Yes. Payments are tax-free and paid directly to you.

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