Income protection insurance

Cover if you're unable to work due to illness or injury

Call free on 0800 433 4513 for a quote ^

  • In 2022, we paid 3,680 income protection claims totalling more than £50mFootnote 1
  • Regular premiums to help you keep tabs on your finances
  • Regular payments you can count on

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 regular payouts can help you stay buoyant through turbulent times, so you can focus on getting better and back to work.

The benefits of our income protection insurance

  • Monthly benefit payments

    To cover some of your lost earnings

  • Flexible cover options

    To suit your lifestyle and needs

  • Supportive claims team

    To make the claims process easy and help you get back on your feet

How does our income protection insurance work?

Our Living Costs Protection, which is a form of income protection insurance, 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.

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. But 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.

How much do you get each month?

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.

How long does the policy last?

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.

What's a deferred period?

The deferred period is the waiting time between the first day you're unable to work and the first day you’re eligible for income protection payments. You can choose a deferred period of 4, 8, 13 or 26 consecutive weeks when you buy your policy. 

Generally, the longer the deferred period, the cheaper your premium, but the longer you'll have to wait until your first payment. So, it’s important to ask how long you could manage financially if your income stopped or dropped.

Do you need income protection insurance?

You might need income protection insurance if a loss of earnings due to illness or injury would make it tough for you to pay the bills.

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? If not, income protection might be a powerful way to guard against financial hardship.

What's included in our income protection insurance?

  • 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
  • Choose how long your policy lasts
    From five to 52 years, or until you’re 71
  • 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
  • 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.

This policy has no cash-in value at any time. If you stop paying your premiums, your cover stops and you get nothing back. We will only pay out if a successful claim is made.

Why get income protection insurance?

Having income protection insurance is an important thing you can have in place to help protect your finances if you become unable to work due to illness or an injury. Your policy can provide a monthly income to help cover your living costs if you're unable to earn your regular salary. This means:

  • Financial support – help to cover your regular monthly outgoings
  • Peace of mind – allowing you to focus on getting better
  • Regular payments – designed to replicate the regular payment of your salary.

To apply for cover, you must:

  1. Be aged 18 to 59
  2. 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
  3. Work at least 16 hours a week – whether self-employed or as an employee
  4. Have worked for the past 12 months
  5. Be registered with a doctor in the UK for at least two years.

Ready to get cover?

You can apply for Living Costs Protection directly with us over the phone.

Call us for a quote

0800 433 4513

Monday to Friday: 8:00am - 6:00pm

Weekends and bank holidays: Closed

^ Calls may be monitored or recorded. Calls to 0800 numbers from UK landlines and mobiles are free. Our opening hours may be different depending on which team you need to speak to.

Grandparent being hugged tightly by their loving grandchild, in an outdoor countryside setting

Aviva DigiCare+

When you take out a new Living Costs Protection policy, you can access health and wellbeing services through the Aviva DigiCare+ smartphone app, provided by Square Health – and it won’t cost you extra. Once your policy with us is active, you can download the app and register your details. Mobile data charges may apply.

You can then use it to connect you with clinicians, nutritionists, therapists and more – which means taking positive steps towards a healthier lifestyle can be as easy as picking up your phone.

  • Annual health check
  • Nutrition support
  • Mental health support
  • Second medical opinion
  • Bupa Anytime HealthLine
  • Bereavement support
  • Digital GP - paid for add on

So the tools you need to help you eat better, feel better and keep well are always on hand.

 Please be aware that the benefits of the app don’t form part of your cover, and they could change or be removed, in the future. This is a non-contractual benefit Aviva can withdraw at any time. Terms and conditions and the privacy policy for Aviva DigiCare+ can be found within the app. Of course, the main reason for taking out a policy with us is financial protection, you shouldn’t take out a policy for Aviva DigiCare+ alone.

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?

Why choose us for income protection insurance?

  • Why choose us for income protection insurance?
    Our Living Costs Protection comes with access to health and wellbeing services through the Aviva DigiCare+ smartphone app
  • We’ve got heritage
    We’ve been protecting people like you for over 325 years
  • You can count on us
    In 2022, we paid 3,680 income protection claims totalling more than £50m Footnote [1]  
  • We’re taking action on climate change
    We’re the first major insurer worldwide to target becoming a Net Zero company by 2040. While we are working towards our sustainability ambitions, we acknowledge that we have relationships with businesses and existing assets that may be associated with significant emissions. More information can be found here.

Looking for more cover?

We’ve got a wealth of options to protect your family’s future.

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Income protection articles and resources

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