*Please Note* - Insurers will not cover any forms of redundancy or unemployment




(You need to work 16 or more hours per week to qualify for Income Protection)

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Income Protection Insurance For Self-Employed

Compare self-employed income protection insurance quotes and help protect your monthly income if illness or injury stops you from working.

Why Do I Need Income Protection?


Provides regular payments that replace part of your income if you’re unable to work due to illness or an accident

Pays out until you can start working again – or until you retire, die or reach the end of the policy term – whichever is sooner

Typically pays out between 50% and 65% of your income if you’re unable to work

Can be claimed as many times as you need to while the policy lasts

income protection cover

What Is Self-Employed Income Protection Insurance?

Self-employed income protection insurance is a policy that can replace part of your income if you are medically unable to work. It is intended to support people such as sole traders, freelancers, contractors, consultants and company directors who rely on their own earnings to cover their day-to-day living costs.

If you’re self-employed, taking time off work due to illness or injury can have an immediate effect on your finances. Unlike employees, many self-employed workers do not receive statutory sick pay or company benefits, which means your income could stop when you stop working. That is why self-employed income protection insurance can be an important form of financial protection.

This type of cover is designed to pay a regular monthly benefit if you are unable to work because of accident, sickness or a medical condition. Instead of relying on savings or borrowing money to cover your bills, income protection can help you maintain financial stability while you recover.

Rather than paying a one-off lump sum, income protection usually pays a monthly benefit. This can be especially useful if you need help with ongoing expenses such as your mortgage, rent, council tax, utilities, groceries, childcare or loan repayments.

what is self-employed income protection insurance

Why Self-Employed People Need Income Protection

When you work for yourself, your income may depend entirely on your ability to carry out your job. If illness, stress, injury or surgery recovery prevents you from working, the financial consequences can build quickly. Even a few weeks off work can put pressure on your household budget.

Income protection helps provide peace of mind by creating a financial safety net. This can be valuable whether you are a tradesperson, driver, creative, consultant, therapist, personal trainer, beautician or any other type of self-employed professional.

Unlike life insurance, which pays out after death, income protection is there to support you while you’re still alive and unable to earn.

This can be especially valuable if:

You don’t receive statutory sick pay

You rely entirely on your monthly income

You have a mortgage, rent or family commitments

You would struggle to cover bills after a few weeks off work

why self-employed people need income protection

What Does Self-Employed Income Protection Cover?

Policies can vary, but many cover a wide range of illnesses and injuries that prevent you from working. This can include:

Back pain and musculoskeletal problems

Stress, anxiety and depression

Accidents and injuries

Surgery recovery

Cancer and serious illness

Long-term medical conditions

Cover depends on the insurer and the wording of the policy, so it is important to compare terms and conditions carefully before choosing a plan.

why self-employed income protection cover is important

How Much Income Can You Protect?

Most insurers will allow you to protect around 50% to 70% of your gross monthly income, depending on the provider and how your earnings are assessed. If you are self-employed, insurers may look at your recent accounts, tax returns or average earnings over time.

This is one reason why comparing quotes is important. Different insurers may assess self-employed earnings in different ways, which can affect the level of cover available and the monthly premium.

If you’re self-employed, insurers may ask for:

Recent tax returns

SA302's

Accountant prepared accounts

Dividends and salary records (limited company directors)

how much income protection can you protect

How Much Does Self-Employed Income Protection Cost?

The cost of self-employed income protection insurance depends on a range of factors, including your age, health, smoking status, occupation, the amount of cover you want and how long you are willing to wait before the policy starts paying out.

Premiums can sometimes be lower if you choose a longer deferred period or a lower monthly benefit. The best way to find out what cover may cost is to compare self-employed income protection quotes from a range of providers.

The cost of self-employed income protection depends on several factors, including:

Your age

Your occupation

Your smoking status

Your medical history

The monthly benefit amount

How long you want payments to last for

The deferred period you choose

how much does self-employed income protection cost

Key Features To Compare

When comparing income protection policies, look beyond just the monthly price. Important features include:

  • Deferred period:

    How long you wait before payments begin

  • Benefit period:

    How long the insurer pays out for

  • Monthly benefit:

    The amount you could receive

  • Own occupation cover:

    Whether the policy covers you for your specific job

  • Guaranteed premiums:

    Whether your premium stays fixed

  • Exclusions:

    Check what is and isn’t covered, especially for pre-existing conditions or risky occupations.

self-employed income protection

Who Should Consider Self-Employed Income Protection?

If your income depends on you being able to physically or mentally do your work, income protection is worth comparing. Self-employed income protection can be worth considering if you are:

Sole traders

Freelancers

Contractors

Company directors

Tradesperson

Self-employed professionals like; Teachers, Hairdressers, Drivers, Personal Trainers, Consultants, Beauticians, etc

If your household depends on your income, protecting it could be one of the most sensible financial decisions you make.

who-should-consider-self-employed-income-protection.webp

Compare Self-Employed Income Protection Quotes

Comparing quotes can help you find the right balance between affordability and protection. No two insurers assess risk in exactly the same way. One provider may offer more competitive rates for your occupation, while another may offer better terms or more flexible cover.

If you want to protect your income, household finances, and peace of mind, now is a great time to compare income protection insurance. Cover could be more affordable than you think, especially if you’re in good health and looking to secure protection early.

Use our simple quote form to compare self-employed income protection quotes and see what cover may be available to you. It only takes a short time to get started, and there’s no obligation to proceed.

how to choose the right self-employed income protection policy

Why Compare Self-Employed Income Protection Quotes?

Comparing self-employed income protection quotes can help you find the right balance between affordability and cover. Different insurers assess applicants in different ways, which means one provider may offer a much more competitive premium than another for the exact same person.

By comparing quotes, you can potentially save money while still finding a policy that suits your needs. This is especially important if you have a specialist occupation, are self-employed, have a pre-existing health condition, or want to tailor your deferred period and claim term carefully.

At Income Protection Cover UK, we help you compare income protection insurance options quickly and easily, so you can explore suitable cover without the hassle of approaching insurers one by one.

why compare self-employed income protection quotes

About Income Protection Cover UK

Our team of experts can help you save money on your Income Protection policy by comparing plans from multiple providers

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Our experts compare leading UK providers to help find you cheap no obligation quotes

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Frequently Asked Questions

Find out more about how income protection insurance works and whether it could be right for you

Yes, many self-employed people in the UK can get income protection insurance. This includes sole traders, freelancers, contractors, consultants and limited company directors. Insurers will usually look at your occupation, earnings, age, health and smoking status when assessing your application.
It can be worth considering if your household relies on your income and you would struggle financially if you had to stop working. For many self-employed people, there is no employer sick pay to fall back on, which makes income protection an important safety net.
Insurers may ask for evidence such as SA302s, tax returns, accountant-prepared accounts, payslips, dividend statements or company accounts if you are a limited company director. The exact documents required can vary depending on the insurer and your employment structure.
The cost depends on factors such as your age, health, occupation, smoking status, the amount of income you want to protect and how long you want the policy to pay out for. Comparing multiple insurers can help you find a policy that suits your budget and needs.
Own occupation cover means the policy is based on whether you can do your specific job, rather than whether you can do any type of work. This is often considered one of the strongest forms of income protection, especially for self-employed workers with specialist roles or physically demanding occupations.
It may still be possible to get cover if you have a pre-existing condition, although the insurer may apply exclusions, offer different terms or charge a higher premium. Each insurer assesses medical history differently, which is why comparing quotes can be important.
Many income protection policies can include cover for mental health conditions such as stress, anxiety and depression, provided the claim meets the insurer’s terms and medical evidence supports the inability to work. Cover and exclusions vary between providers, so it is important to compare policies carefully.
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