Income Protection

Income protection pays you an income if you can’t work because you’re ill. It will continue to pay you sick pay until you can go back to work. It gives you the peace of mind that you’ll be able to maintain your family’s standard of living if you’re ill and can’t work.

Income Protection

  • It pays you a regular income if you can’t work because you’re ill or have an accident.
  • It covers up to 65% of your income if you cannot work.
  • Choose either level or increasing (e.g., inflation-linked) cover.
  • It pays you a tax-free income until you either go back to work, retire, die, or reach the end of the policy term, whichever is earliest.

Independent Financial Advice

You get a regular tax-free income if you're ill and can't work.

You have the peace of mind that you and your loved ones' lifestyle is protected.

No limit to the number of times you can claim.

“We give candid, impartial, effective, plain English financial advice.”

Those who take financial advice are on average £47,000 better off than those that don’t

FT Adviser, November 2019

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

The information provided in these FAQs does not constitute professional financial advice. We strongly recommend that you consult a professional adviser before proceeding with a financial transaction.

Is it worth getting income protection?

It depends on whether you already have income protection and, if you do, how much coverage you have. If you can’t work due to an illness or an accident, your employer might continue to give you some level of sick pay for a limited time.

Even when an employer pays sick, most employees are usually moved onto Statutory Sick Pay within six months, and very few employers will support you for more than a year if you can’t work because you’re ill.

If your income stops, you can quickly get into a situation where you can’t pay your essential household bills, such as your mortgage, rent, and utilities. It’s tough if you’re self-employed because you have no sick pay arrangements to fall back on.

What does income protection not cover?

It doesn’t cover you if you lose your job or you’re made redundant. Income protection is designed to pay you a regular income if you can’t do your job because you’re ill or you’ve had an accident.

How long does income protection pay out for?

Some policies offer cheaper cover if you limit the benefit payment period to two to five years. A comprehensive income protection policy will pay out until you’re either well enough to return to work or retire (if earlier).

If you cannot do your old job because of your illness or accident, a comprehensive policy may also pay you a top-up income to bridge the gap between your new salary and your old one.

Is income protection better than critical illness insurance?

Critical illness insurance and income protection insurance are equally important. They give different types of financial protection for you and your loved ones. Ideally, you should have both, but only if they are affordable. If affordability is an issue, having a little of both is better.

Can I have two income protection policies?

The upper limit on the amount you can protect using income protection insurance is between 50% and 65% of your income across all your income protection policies. The actual maximum differs between insurers. If you insure yourself for more than the upper limit with multiple policies, your insurer(s) will likely limit the income they pay you in case of a claim.

If your employer’s sick pay policy gives you a period with full pay followed by a period with a reduced payment, e.g., six months full-pay, then six months half-pay, you could use two separate income protection policies. Each policy should have a different deferred period to give a seamless income level throughout the period during which you can’t work.

What tax do I pay on income protection insurance?

For a personal income protection policy, premiums are not tax deductible. Benefit payments are, however, entirely tax-free.

Note that this tax treatment depends on your circumstances and may be subject to change in future.

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Neil Jenkins owner of Fintegrity

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The Workers’ League House, 44-50 Royal Parade Mews, Blackheath, London, SE3 0TN