Guide
Life insurance and inheritance tax
Why writing a policy in trust can keep the payout outside your estate.
Read guideCompare income protection insurance
Compare UK income protection policies that replace part of your salary if you can't work due to illness or injury, for as long as you need it.
Compare income protection quotesReady to compare income protection insurance?
Run a full market comparison before you commit. It takes about five minutes and there's no obligation to apply.
How income protection insurance works
Income protection pays a regular, usually tax-free, replacement income — typically 50 to 70% of your gross salary — if you're unable to work due to illness or injury.
Unlike critical illness cover, it isn't limited to a defined list of conditions and can pay out for common causes of long-term absence such as back problems, stress, anxiety and musculoskeletal injuries.
You choose a deferred period before payments start, usually matching how long your employer would continue to pay you, and payments continue until you return to work, retire or the policy ends.
What affects the cost of income protection insurance
- Your age, occupation and health
- Deferred period before payments start
- How the benefit level is defined
- Whether cover is short-term or to retirement
- Own occupation vs any occupation definition
Why compare income protection insurance with us
Broad condition coverage
Not limited to a fixed list — covers most reasons you can't work.
Choice of deferred period
Match the policy to your employer's existing sick pay arrangements.
Own occupation definition
Pays out if you can't do your specific job, not just any job.
Support services included
Many policies add rehabilitation, physio and mental health support.
Typical monthly premiums by age and deferred period
Indicative UK pricing for cover replacing 60% of a £35,000 salary, office-based occupation.
| Age | 4-week deferred | 13-week deferred | 26-week deferred |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25 | £25 - £38 | £16 - £25 | £11 - £18 |
| 35 | £32 - £48 | £20 - £32 | £14 - £23 |
| 45 | £48 - £72 | £30 - £48 | £22 - £35 |
| 55 | £80 - £120 | £52 - £80 | £38 - £60 |
Cost by occupation type
Typical monthly cost for a 40-year-old, £30,000 benefit, 13-week deferred period.
| Occupation type | Risk category | Monthly cost |
|---|---|---|
| Office-based professional | Low risk | £25 - £40 |
| Teacher or healthcare worker | Medium risk | £35 - £55 |
| Tradesperson (electrician, plumber) | Higher risk | £55 - £90 |
| Manual / construction worker | High risk | £75 - £130 |
Expert advice
Our team reviews UK life and health insurers, underwriting approaches and policy wording throughout the year.
“People insure their car and their phone but not the income that pays for both. If you're self-employed with no sick pay, this is usually the most important cover you can buy.”
income protection insurance: pros and cons
Pros
- Covers most causes of long-term absence, not just serious illness
- Regular income rather than a one-off lump sum
- Own occupation policies protect your specific job role
- Cover can run until retirement age
Cons
- Higher-risk occupations pay significantly more
- Longer deferred periods reduce cost but delay payment
- Mental health and back conditions are sometimes excluded or limited after a claim
How to choose income protection
The cheapest premium is not always the best policy. Check these points before you apply.
- 1
Match the deferred period to your sick pay
If your employer pays full sick pay for 3 months, a 13-week deferred period avoids paying for cover you don't need.
- 2
Check the occupation definition
Own occupation cover is more valuable than any occupation cover, especially in skilled or physical roles.
- 3
Consider guaranteed insurability
This option lets you increase cover later, e.g. after a pay rise, without new medical underwriting.
- 4
Understand exclusion clauses
Some insurers limit payments for mental health or back pain claims after a set period — check before buying.
Compare income protection insurance
See what's available for your business today. It takes just minutes.
How to compare income protection insurance
It takes a few minutes and comparing will not affect your credit score.
1. Tell us a bit about you
Your age, health, smoker status and roughly how much cover you need.
2. See matched quotes
We shortlist UK insurers who price your circumstances competitively.
3. Compare the full policy
Cover level, exclusions and claims record — not just the monthly premium.
4. Apply directly with the insurer
You complete underwriting and set your start date, usually within a few days.
Things to watch out for
Self-employed people should check exactly how their income will be assessed at claim time, as this can be contested.
Some cheaper policies define 'any occupation' rather than 'own occupation', which is a much harder bar to meet for a claim.
Premiums for manual and high-risk occupations can be several times higher than for office-based roles.
Our income protection insurance service
We compare income protection insurance from established UK insurers so you can see premiums, cover levels and exclusions side by side.
Comparing is free, and we will say plainly if a policy you already hold looks competitive.
Getting started
1
Gather your health history
Insurers ask about medical history, family history and lifestyle — accuracy matters at claim time.
2
Work out how much cover you need
Think about your mortgage, dependants and how long you'd need an income replaced for.
3
Answer underwriting questions honestly
Non-disclosure is the most common reason genuine claims are later declined.
Why choose Grow Your Business?
Wide choice of providers
We compare a broad range of UK providers so you can find the option that actually fits how your business operates.
Exclusive offers
We work hard to bring you exclusive deals, switching incentives and cashback where they're available.
Simple and fast
It takes just a few minutes to compare with us — and the deal you find could be well below what you pay today.
Types of income protection insurance
The right structure depends on your circumstances, budget and what you're protecting.
Long-term / to retirement
Pays until you can return to work or reach your chosen retirement age.
Short-term (1 or 2 years)
Cheaper cover with a capped payment period, useful as a budget option.
Own occupation
Pays out if you can't do your own job, even if you could do another role.
Executive income protection
Employer-arranged cover for directors, often more tax-efficient to fund.
Providers we compare
Logos are shown for identification. We are not affiliated with every insurer listed and do not compare the whole market.
Legal & General
Aviva
Vitality
Bupa
AXA Health
Royal London
Zurich
LV=Comparing with us is a no-brainer
“When I was signed off with a back injury for four months, the payments kept our mortgage paid.”
Mark, self-employed electrician, Cardiff
income protection insurance guides
Guide
Do you need private health cover?
How NHS waiting times are changing the way people think about self-pay and private cover.
Read guide
Guide
Income protection vs critical illness
The difference between insuring your income and insuring against a diagnosis.
Read guideincome protection insurance FAQs
How much income protection cover can I get?
Insurers typically limit cover to 50 to 70% of your gross income, reflecting the tax-free nature of the payments and to preserve an incentive to return to work.
What's a deferred period?
The waiting period between becoming unable to work and payments starting, usually chosen to match how long your employer continues paying you.
Is income protection the same as critical illness cover?
No. Income protection pays a regular income for most causes of incapacity, while critical illness cover pays a one-off lump sum on diagnosis of a specific listed condition.
Can self-employed people get income protection?
Yes, and it's often more important for the self-employed, since there is no employer sick pay to fall back on.
Written by the Grow Your Business editorial team · Updated 26 July 2026