Income protection
Income protection in Doncaster
A monthly payout when you can’t work
Income protection pays a regular benefit if illness or injury stops you working. Unlike critical illness cover, it isn’t limited to a short list of diagnoses — and unlike life cover, it helps while you’re alive and recovering.
Pain point
Employer sick pay won’t last — and Statutory Sick Pay won’t cover the mortgage.
Solution
Income protection replaces a slice of your income month by month until you’re back at work or the policy ends — covering the risk most people underestimate.
- Typically replaces around 50–70% of gross income
- Pays monthly, like a salary, after a chosen waiting period
- Short-term and long-term policy options
- Often the most practical cover for mortgage payments
How income protection works
You choose a benefit amount, a waiting period (deferred period) before claims start, and how long benefits can pay for. Longer waiting periods usually mean lower premiums if you have savings or employer sick pay to bridge the gap.
Claims are based on your ability to work under the policy definition — often “own occupation” or a broader definition. Own occupation cover is usually stronger for professionals and skilled roles.
Why mortgage holders underestimate it
Statistically, a long spell off work is more likely during a mortgage term than dying. Yet many households only buy life cover.
If your household couldn’t keep up repayments after a few months without your salary, income protection is usually worth a serious look.
Fitting it around sick pay and savings
Check your employment contract: full pay, half pay, and Statutory Sick Pay periods. Build the deferred period around that reality so you’re not paying for overlap you don’t need.
Self-employed and contractors often need this more, not less — there’s no employer sick pay to fall back on.
People also asked
Quick answers
Is income protection the same as critical illness cover?
No. Income protection pays a monthly benefit if you can’t work. Critical illness pays a lump sum for listed diagnoses. Many people use both for different jobs.
How much of my income can I protect?
Insurers usually cap cover around 50–70% of gross income so you still have an incentive to return to work. We’ll calculate a sensible figure against your mortgage and bills.
Can self-employed people get income protection in Doncaster?
Yes. Self-employed applicants are a core market for income protection because there’s no employer sick pay. Underwriting looks at your trading history and accounts.
When should I take income protection out?
Ideally when you take the mortgage or when sick pay/savings wouldn’t cover repayments for long. You don’t have to buy it on completion day — but waiting until you’re unwell is usually too late.
This page is general information for UK readers, not personalised insurance advice. Cover is subject to underwriting and policy terms. Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.