Compare Income Protection Insurance in United Kingdom

Compare the top income protection insurance providers in United Kingdom — see cover, features and typical rates side by side.

Live offers

22 live offers compared from 20 providers. Updated daily.

Aviva Income Protection UK Aviva UK

Price on request

  • Monthly Benefit Max: Up to 60% of income
  • Waiting Period: From 4 weeks
  • Benefit Period: To age 65
  • Key Feature: Own-occupation definition; Aviva DigiCare+ digital health app; critical illness add-on

Legal & General Income Protection UK Legal & General

Price on request

  • Monthly Benefit Max: Up to 60% of income
  • Waiting Period: From 4 weeks
  • Benefit Period: 1, 2, 5 yrs or to 65
  • Key Feature: UK's largest IP market share; Umbrella Benefit (children); waiver of premium included

LV= Income Protection UK LV=

Price on request

  • Monthly Benefit Max: Up to 60% of income
  • Waiting Period: From 4 weeks
  • Benefit Period: 1, 2, 5 yrs or to 65
  • Key Feature: Mutual insurer (policyholder-owned); Doctors Services rehabilitation; best-in-class own-occupation

Vitality Income Protection UK Vitality Health UK

Price on request

  • Monthly Benefit Max: Up to 60% of income
  • Waiting Period: From 4 weeks
  • Benefit Period: To age 65
  • Key Feature: Vitality Points — gym/Apple Watch discounts reduce premiums; MRI/physio fast-track; Vitality GP 24/7

Royal London Income Protection UK Royal London

Price on request

  • Monthly Benefit Max: Up to 60% of income
  • Waiting Period: From 4 weeks
  • Benefit Period: 1, 2, 5 yrs or to 65
  • Key Feature: Mutual insurer; Helping Hand rehabilitation nurse; own-occupation; linked serious illness cover

Legal & General IP Legal & General

Price on request

  • Monthly Benefit Max: Up to £300k/yr
  • Waiting Period: 4-week deferral
  • Benefit Period: To retirement
  • Key Feature: Unemployment cover add-on

Scottish Widows IP Scottish Widows

Price on request

  • Monthly Benefit Max: Up to £300k/yr
  • Waiting Period: 4-week deferral
  • Benefit Period: To retirement
  • Key Feature: Back-to-work support

AXA Income Protection AXA Health UK

Price on request

  • Monthly Benefit Max: Up to £250k/yr
  • Waiting Period: 4-week deferral
  • Benefit Period: To 70
  • Key Feature: Rehabilitation support

Unum Income Protection Unum

Price on request

  • Monthly Benefit Max: Up to £250k/yr
  • Waiting Period: 4-week deferral
  • Benefit Period: To 65
  • Key Feature: Employer-grade individual cover

Shepherd Friendly IP Shepherd Friendly

Price on request

  • Monthly Benefit Max: Up to £65k/yr
  • Waiting Period: 2-week deferral
  • Benefit Period: To 70
  • Key Feature: Shorter deferral option

National Friendly IP National Friendly

Price on request

  • Monthly Benefit Max: Up to £52k/yr
  • Waiting Period: 4-week deferral
  • Benefit Period: To 65
  • Key Feature: NHS-recommended mutual

Wesleyan IP Wesleyan

Price on request

  • Monthly Benefit Max: Up to £100k/yr
  • Waiting Period: 4-week deferral
  • Benefit Period: To 65
  • Key Feature: Specialist for doctors/dentists

British Friendly IP British Friendly

Price on request

  • Monthly Benefit Max: Up to £65k/yr
  • Waiting Period: 4-week deferral
  • Benefit Period: To 65
  • Key Feature: Mutual society member benefits

Cirencester Friendly IP Cirencester Friendly

Price on request

  • Monthly Benefit Max: Up to £65k/yr
  • Waiting Period: 4-week deferral
  • Benefit Period: To 65
  • Key Feature: Mutual — shared profits

Holloway Friendly IP Holloway Friendly

Price on request

  • Monthly Benefit Max: Up to £65k/yr
  • Waiting Period: 4-week deferral
  • Benefit Period: To 65
  • Key Feature: Savings fund element

Vitality Life IP Vitality Life

Price on request

  • Monthly Benefit Max: Up to £250k/yr
  • Waiting Period: 4-week deferral
  • Benefit Period: To 70
  • Key Feature: Healthy living rewards

Foresters IP Foresters Financial

Price on request

  • Monthly Benefit Max: Up to £65k/yr
  • Waiting Period: 4-week deferral
  • Benefit Period: To 65
  • Key Feature: Fraternal benefits

Holloway Complete IP Holloway Friendly

Price on request

  • Monthly Benefit Max: Up to £65k/yr
  • Waiting Period: 1-week deferral
  • Benefit Period: To 65
  • Key Feature: Day-1 cover add-on

Prudential Income Protect Prudential

Price on request

  • Monthly Benefit Max: Up to £200k/yr
  • Waiting Period: 4-week deferral
  • Benefit Period: To 65
  • Key Feature: Major brand trustworthiness

Canada Life IP Canada Life

Price on request

  • Monthly Benefit Max: Up to £300k/yr
  • Waiting Period: 4-week deferral
  • Benefit Period: To 70
  • Key Feature: Increasing claim option

AIG Life Income Protection AIG Life

Price on request

Zurich Income Protection Zurich UK Life

Price on request

What is income protection insurance in the UK?

Income protection insurance pays a regular, tax-free monthly income if you cannot work due to illness or injury. Unlike a one-off payout, it replaces a portion of your salary, typically up to around 60%, until you recover, retire or the policy term ends, making it one of the most valuable but underused forms of protection.

It is designed to bridge the gap left by limited statutory sick pay and short employer sick-pay schemes, protecting your ability to meet the mortgage and living costs if you are unable to earn.

How the UK income protection market works

Premiums depend on your age, occupation, health, smoking status and the level and length of cover. Two choices drive the price most: the deferred period (how long you wait before payments start, commonly 4, 13, 26 or 52 weeks) and whether the policy is full-term (paying until retirement) or short-term (paying for a limited period such as one or two years per claim).

Definitions of incapacity matter too, an own-occupation policy pays if you cannot do your specific job, which is the strongest form of cover.

Key policy features

Deferred period — a longer wait before payments start lowers the premium; align it with your sick pay and savings.

Own occupation — pays if you cannot do your own job, the most protective definition.

Full-term vs short-term — full-term pays until retirement; short-term is cheaper but time-limited.

Guaranteed premiums — fixed premiums avoid rises as you age.

Leading UK providers

Legal & General and Aviva UK are among the largest income protection insurers. LV= and Royal London are strongly rated for protection, while Vitality Health UK links cover to wellness rewards. Holloway Friendly is a specialist friendly society focusing on income protection, particularly for self-employed and manual occupations, and Scottish Widows and AXA Health UK also operate in the market.

How to choose the right policy

Match the deferred period to how long your savings and any employer sick pay would last, choose own-occupation cover if available, and prefer full-term over short-term if you can afford it. Check the definition of incapacity carefully and whether the policy is guaranteed renewable so it cannot be cancelled while you keep paying.

What it costs

Premiums vary widely with age, occupation and cover level. Low-risk office workers choosing a long deferred period pay least, while manual occupations, younger cover-until-retirement terms and short deferred periods cost more. As a rough guide, expect a small percentage of your monthly income, with the exact figure highly individual, so a personalised quote is essential.

Protections and regulation

Income protection is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Complaints can be taken free to the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS), and the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) protects 100% of a claim with no cap for this long-term insurance if the insurer fails. Full and honest disclosure of health and occupation is essential to ensure a claim is paid.

Common questions

Isn't statutory sick pay enough? Statutory sick pay is modest and time-limited, so most households would struggle without cover.

Own occupation or any occupation? Own occupation is the strongest; any-occupation policies pay only if you cannot do any job.

Is the payout taxed? Personal income protection payouts are normally tax-free.

Is it useful for the self-employed? Very, since the self-employed have no employer sick pay at all, making income protection one of the most valuable covers they can hold.

Income Protection Insurance in United Kingdom — FAQ

What is the cheapest income protection insurance in United Kingdom?

Compare 5 live offers on Giraffy and sort by lowest price to find the cheapest income protection insurance in United Kingdom.

How many providers cover income protection insurance on Giraffy in United Kingdom?

Giraffy tracks Aviva UK,Legal & General,LV=,Vitality Health UK,Royal London income protection insurance companies in United Kingdom.

How often are compare prices updated?

Offer data is refreshed daily from the Giraffy database. Each compare page shows when data was last checked.

Can providers pay to rank higher?

No. Giraffy does not sell ranking placement. Results reflect your filters and sort order — default is lowest price.