For the self-employed
No sick pay to fall back on, so your cover does the job.
Suits: Sole traders, freelancers and contractors
Cover for your pay packet
Income protection
A monthly income if illness or injury stops you working, so the rent, the mortgage and the shopping still get paid.
A few minutes online. No sales calls, and no fee from us.
Choose the right cover for you.
Income protection fits most working lives. Here’s how it works for yours, and what sits well beside it.
Who can apply? Most insurers cover people from 18 who live and work in the UK, employed or self-employed. The cover usually ends by the time you plan to retire, and your job affects the price and the terms. Not sure? Ask us.
For renters
Keep paying the rent if you can’t work for a while.
Suits: Anyone renting a home
Mortgage protection
Keep up the repayments, and clear the loan if the worst happens.
Suits: Homeowners
Critical illness cover
A lump sum on diagnosis of a serious illness.
Suits: A buffer for big one-off costs
Waiver of premium
An add-on that pays your other premiums while you can’t work.
Suits: Keeping all your cover going
Why get it through Croaked?
We compare, you choose. Quotes from a panel of UK insurers, side by side, in plain English.
We explain the choices. The waiting period, the payment period and how your job is judged. We make them make sense.
No fee from us. The insurer pays us if you take a policy. It doesn’t add to your premium.
No sales calls, ever. Do it all online. Call us only if you want to.
Cover from names you know.
Compare a panel of recognised UK insurers through one clear, straightforward application.
What’s covered, and what isn’t.
The short version. Your policy documents have every detail, and we’ll go through them with you.
Usually covered
- Any illness or injury that stops you working, physical or mental
- Part of your income, paid monthly after the waiting period
- Repeat claims, on most policies, for as long as the cover lasts
- Going back part-time, with a reduced payment, on many policies
Usually not covered
- Losing your job or being made redundant
- Your full income: it pays part of it, so there’s a reason to go back
- Conditions you had before you applied, if the insurer excludes them
- Anything you didn’t tell the insurer when you applied
What’s covered depends on the policy and the insurer. We’ll show you the details before you decide.
How it works.
Three steps, online, with a person on the phone if you want one.
Step 1Tell us about you.
Your job, your income, your health, and how long you could manage without pay.
Step 2Compare your quotes.
See the prices, waiting periods and payment periods side by side, and choose the one that fits.
Step 3Apply, and you’re covered.
The insurer checks your answers, sometimes with your doctor. Cover starts the day they accept you.
Income protection questions.
Short answers to what people ask most, before they buy.
How much does it pay?
Part of your income, usually somewhere between half and around two-thirds of it before tax, up to a limit. It’s paid monthly until you go back to work, the payment period ends, or the policy ends.
What’s the waiting period?
The time between stopping work and the first payment, usually 4, 13, 26 or 52 weeks. A longer wait costs less. Match it to your sick pay or savings.
I get sick pay at work. Do I need it?
Check how long it lasts. Many employers pay full pay for a few months, then Statutory Sick Pay, which is much less. Income protection can start when your sick pay drops.
Is the payout taxed?
Payments from a policy you pay for yourself are usually free of Income Tax.
What affects the price?
Your age, your health, your job, whether you smoke or vape, how much you want paid, the waiting period, and how long it pays for on each claim.
What does “own occupation” mean?
It means the policy pays if you can’t do your own job. Some policies only pay if you can’t do any suitable job, which is harder to claim on. We’ll show you which is which.
Already have a policy?
Claims and changes are handled by your insurer: their number is on your policy documents. If you arranged it through us, call us on 01302 590 852 and we’ll help you find the policy and the right people.
For a claim, it helps to have:
- The policy number
- The date you stopped working
- A fit note or your doctor’s details
- Proof of your earnings, such as payslips or tax returns
Claim through the insurer
Tell them early, even during the waiting period, so the payments can start on time. Their claims number is in the policy documents.
Ask us to help
Can’t find the policy, or the insurer? Call us on 01302 590 852 and we’ll find it with you.
Useful information
Changing your mind
You have 30 days after your policy starts to cancel for a full refund of anything you’ve paid.
If an insurer fails
Income protection is protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS), which covers 100% of a claim if an insurer can’t pay. See fscs.org.uk.
What the state pays
Check what you’d get from sick pay and benefits first. See gov.uk and MoneyHelper.
Still need support?
Ask a real person anything about income protection. Nobody will try to sell you anything, and there’s no fee from us.
Monday–Thursday 9am–7pm, Friday 9am–3pm
