What is income protection insurance?
Income protection is a type of insurance that replaces some of your income if you're unable to work because of illness or injury. Its monthly payouts can help you stay buoyant through turbulent times, so you can focus on getting better and back to work.
Consider how you’d cover your usual monthly costs if you were ill or injured and couldn’t work for a while. Could you still make ends meet using statutory (employer) sick pay, your own savings or state benefits? It's worth mentioning the current statutory sick pay is £118.75 per week . It's usually paid by your employer for up to 28 weeks only. If you're self-employed you're not eligible for this benefit. Income protection therefore might be a powerful way to guard against financial hardship.
How does our income protection insurance work?
Our income protection insurance is called Living Costs Protection and it can help replace some of your earnings if you're unable to work due to illness or injury. This could help you pay essential bills like your mortgage, rent and other outgoings such as utilities and food, enabling you to focus on your recovery.
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Fixed monthly premiums
You can choose a policy lasting anywhere from 5 to 52 years, or until you're 71. You'll pay fixed monthly premiums for the duration of your policy.
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Flexible cover options
You'll get between £500 and £1,500 a month, subject to eligibility, tax-free, on each successful claim, for up to 12 months.
When deciding how much you'd like to get each month, consider the effects of inflation. Since prices tend to rise over time, you'll want to make sure your money will help you fend off future shocks.
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Option to choose deferred period
Payments are made monthly as a fixed amount and start after a deferred period (a waiting period) which lasts between 4 and 26 weeks, depending on the option you choose.
You can claim as many times as you need while the policy lasts. If you've received 12 months' worth of payments, you'll need to return to work for at least 16 hours a week for at least six months in a row before you can make another claim.
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Supportive claims team
To make the claims process easy.
Do you already have income protection insurance with us?
- View your policy on MyAviva
- Income protection knowledge centre
- Make changes to your policy
- Make a claim
- Help and support
To apply for cover, you must:
- Be aged 18 to 59
- Be in, and have a legal right to live in, the UK, consider the UK to be your main home and be legally permitted to work there, and have no current intention of moving anywhere else permanently
- Work at least 16 hours a week – whether self-employed or as an employee
- Have been working for the past 12 months
- Have been registered with a doctor for the last 2 years.
What our income protection insurance covers?
Here’s more about what’s covered, and what to bear in mind before you go ahead.
What's covered?
- Monthly payments
Payments to replace some of your earnings for up to 12 months. You'll get the first payment when your chosen deferred period ends - Fixed premiums
Monthly payments that stay the same for the term of your policy, unless you make changes - Choose how much you get
Payments of £500 to £1,500 a month, subject to eligibility. The amount you choose will stay the same throughout your policy term - Count on comprehensive service
Support through every stage of your claim and cover, including rehabilitation to help you get back to work - Enjoy back-to-work benefit
One month’s benefit when you return to work, if your illness or injury means you earn less than you did before. The benefit isn’t available if you’ve already received 12 monthly payments - Life change benefit
If your policy is accepted on standard terms there's the option to increase your cover amount if your mortgage or rental payments go up Footnote [2] - Pause your premiums after a claim
Premium waiver starting 13 weeks after a successful claim, or from the end of your deferred period, whichever is sooner. You'll need to start paying premiums again when your claim period ends
Important to know
- Pick your deferred period
Waiting periods of 4, 8, 13 or 26 consecutive weeks, starting from the first day you’re unable to work. You’ll get your first payment when the deferred period ends - Choose how long your policy lasts
From five to 52 years, or until you’re 71 - One year maximum claim length
In the event of a successful claim the policy will pay out for a maximum of 12 months. Once you’ve returned to work for 6 months you can claim again - This is not a savings or investment plan
We'll only pay out on a successful claim. As this is not a savings or investment plan, there is no cash-in value at any time. If you stop paying premiums when they're due or if you cancel the policy, your cover will end
Why choose us for income protection insurance?
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Aviva DigiCare+ health and wellbeing benefits available at no extra cost
Your cover gives you access to a range of health and wellbeing services, including Aviva DigiCare+, provided by Square Health. This offers you an annual health check, mental health support, personal nutritionists and more at no extra cost.
The Aviva DigiCare+ app and services are non-contractual benefits and can be changed or withdrawn at any time. You can find the terms and conditions and the privacy policy in the app. Residency restrictions apply. -
We’ve got experience on our side
We’ve been around for 325 years, so you can trust that we know what we're doing when it comes to protection.
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You can count on us
In 2024, we paid 4,330 income protection claims totalling more than £61.8m Footnote [1].
Income protection insurance FAQs
What happens if I stop working or I’m made redundant?
What if I take adoption/maternity/parental leave?
Can I have more than one policy?
Am I eligible if I’m self-employed?
How do I decide how much benefit I need each month?
Looking for different cover?
We have other types of protection cover to help during difficult times. These plans offer you a specific type of protection cover and are not savings plans.
Life insurance 
Also known as 'term life insurance'. Pays a lump sum to help your loved ones pay bills, mortgage repayments, school fees, and any other debts, if you die within the policy term.
Age: 18-77
Cover: Up to £5,000,000
Critical illness cover 
Pays a lump sum if you or your child are diagnosed with or have surgery for one or the 52 critical illnesses covered by our plan within the policy term and survive for 10 days.
Age: 18-64
Cover: Up to £1,000,000
Over 50 life insurance 
Guaranteed life insurance cover for the rest of your life that pays a lump sum when you die. If you die within the first 12 months of anything but an accident, we’ll pay an amount equal to the premiums you’ve paid, but not the cover amount. We won’t ask you any health questions when you apply.
Age: 50-80
Cover: £5 - £100
Income protection articles and resources
Read more about managing financial challenges and returning to work.
