Income Protection
If you were sick or injured and couldn't work how would you pay the bills?
If you are employed and you qualify for Statutory Sick Pay you may receive £95.85 per week for up to 28 weeks (correct as at May 2020).
If you are self employed you may apply for Employment and Support Allowance. While your claim is being assessed you’ll normally get the ‘assessment rate’ for 13 weeks. This will be up to £58.90 a week if you’re aged under 25 and up to £74.35 a week if you’re aged 25 or over (correct as at May 2020).
Income Protection is an insurance policy that pays out if you're unable to work because of injury or illness. Income protection usually pays out until retirement, death or your return to work, although short-term income protection policies, which last for one or two years, are also available at a lower cost.
Neither income protection or short-term income protection pays out if you're made redundant - but they will often provide 'back to work' help if you're off sick.
Income protection is different from critical illness insurance, which pays out a lump sum if you fall seriously ill.
As with all insurances, conditions and exclusions will apply.