Finding the right income protection advisers to guide you through property finance is crucial. That’s why it’s important to do your due diligence. This helps lay the foundation for a strong, trust-based relationship. A professional who understands your goals is more likely to help you secure the right protection.
Before choosing a mortgage, you must also consider how you would cope if you couldn’t work. That’s where income protection insurance comes in. It pays out a regular monthly income if you fall ill or suffer an injury and can’t work. This type of cover is especially valuable for those without employer sick pay or strong savings. It ensures you can still meet financial commitments, including mortgage payments, even during long-term illness. For example, someone earning £3,000 per month might receive around £2,000 in monthly benefits while off work, depending on their policy terms.
Policies vary, but many include a deferred period. This is the time between when you stop working and when the payments begin. The longer the deferral, the lower the premiums. Most policies will pay out until you can return to work, reach retirement, or the policy ends. According to the Association of British Insurers, over 90% of income protection claims were paid in 2023, showing the reliability of such cover
The Role of Life Insurance Advisers
Income protection advisers help clients maintain financial stability if illness or injury prevents them from working. These advisers assess income risk and recommend protection that ensures monthly bills can still be paid.
Understanding the client’s employment status, income level and existing benefits is essential. Advisers use this information to determine whether income protection is suitable and which policy best meets the client’s needs.
Some clients may assume savings or statutory sick pay is enough. Advisers help explain the limits of these and how income protection replaces a percentage of earnings until the client returns to work or the policy ends.
A good adviser ensures the cover amount, benefit term, and deferred period are tailored to the client’s job type and financial commitments. This includes reviewing mortgage, rent, utilities, and family living expenses to calculate what needs to be covered.
When policies are discussed alongside mortgage advice, it is important the adviser documents the recommendation fully. All advice must meet Consumer Duty expectations and be suitable, affordable, and in the client’s best interests.
The adviser must complete a clear fact-find and provide a suitability report explaining why the product was chosen. This helps the client understand the value of the cover and keeps a proper audit trail for regulatory purposes.
Income protection is not just for the self-employed. Employed clients with limited sick pay can benefit too. Advisers explain what income protection covers, how it complements existing benefits, and the peace of mind it can offer.
Why Advice from an Income Protection Adviser Matters Now More Than Ever
In a digital-first world, many people turn to online tools that promise quick income protection quotes. These tools can seem convenient, but they often overlook important details. Most quote tools only ask basic questions. They rarely consider how you are paid, whether you are employed, self-employed, or a company director, or how your income may fluctuate. They also tend to simplify policy wording and do not clearly explain exclusions or claim conditions.
Crucially, online tools do not assess what could prevent a policy from paying out when you need it most.
Why Advice Matters for Income Protection
Income protection policies arranged without advice are more likely to encounter problems at claim stage. This is often caused by incomplete disclosures or exclusions that were not fully understood at the time of application. The Financial Conduct Authority sets strict standards for regulated advice to help prevent these issues. An authorised income protection adviser must follow a structured advice process that protects consumers. This includes completing a full fact find to understand your health history, occupation, and income structure. It also involves recommending suitable cover that aligns with your needs, budget, and risk profile.
A regulated adviser will explain how the policy works in practice. This includes deferred periods, benefit limits, exclusions, and how insurers assess claims. You can find support from qualified professionals by using our “Find a mortgage adviser” service, which also connects you with advisers experienced in protection planning.
Income Protection Is About Reliability, Not Just Cost
Choosing income protection is not simply about securing the lowest premium. It is about ensuring your income is protected if illness or injury prevents you from working. A well-advised policy is structured to reflect your actual earnings and employment terms. This reduces the risk of underinsurance and improves the likelihood of a successful claim. Advised applications are typically more accurate. This is because advisers help identify relevant medical disclosures and occupation details that insurers rely on during claims assessment.
The Impact of Advice on Claims
Income protection advice can significantly reduce claim delays and rejections. When guidance is provided by a regulated adviser, applications are completed with greater accuracy and clarity. Industry data show that a notable proportion of claims are delayed or denied due to errors at the application stage. Many of these policies were arranged without professional advice. Getting expert help from the outset helps ensure your policy is set up correctly and fit for purpose. This can make a meaningful difference when you need financial support most.
For tailored guidance, our income protection advisers can assess your circumstances and recommend suitable cover in line with current FCA standards.
What You Risk Without Specialist Advice
Comparison websites and online quote tools provide prices, not protection. They rarely explain important details such as:
- Deferred periods
- Own occupation versus any occupation definitions
- Benefit limits linked to earnings
- How changes in your employment status affect claims
Why Income Protection Is So Important
These can significantly impact whether your policy pays out and how much.
Did you know?
Some providers reduce benefits or refuse to pay if your earnings have changed since your policy started. An adviser helps you avoid these pitfalls.
For many, income protection is the one policy that helps maintain your financial stability during ill health. It helps pay bills, rent or mortgage payments, and protects your long-term goals. But it only works if the policy is right for you and that means getting expert advice from someone trained to ask the right questions and recommend the right options.
Did you know?
Not all income protection policies are the same. Some pay for only one or two years. Others pay until retirement age. A specialist adviser helps you choose the right type.
What a Good Income Protection Adviser Will Do
A qualified adviser will:
- Review your job type, salary structure and any benefits from your employer
- Explain how the policy would work if you became ill or injured
- Discuss the right level of cover and the best deferred period
- Ensure you understand the full terms, including any exclusions
- Provide documents showing why their recommendation is suitable
Did you know?
A deferred period affects how soon you receive payments after making a claim. Get it wrong, and you might be waiting months for support.
Why Work With Connect Experts
We provide clear and practical advice. Our role is to help you understand income protection insurance and choose cover that suits your work and lifestyle. We work with a wide panel of UK insurers. This allows our advisers to compare policies and recommend suitable income protection based on your occupation, income, health history, and budget.
Income protection insurance pays a regular monthly benefit if you cannot work due to illness or injury. The benefit is designed to replace a portion of your income and help cover essential outgoings such as mortgage payments, rent, and household bills. You can receive advice on income protection alone or as part of a wider protection plan. Where appropriate, we may also discuss options such as life insurance or critical illness cover. For many clients, income protection provides the strongest long-term financial support.
If you need broader guidance, our income protection advice service ensures your cover aligns with your overall financial position.
What Makes Our Income Protection Advisers Different
- End-to-End Support: We manage the full application process for you. This includes gathering information, completing forms, and liaising with insurers. Our administrative team carefully reviews documentation and handles follow-ups. This reduces delays and helps avoid common application errors that can affect future claims. Your adviser remains your main point of contact throughout the process and explains each step clearly.
- Free Ongoing Policy Reviews: Your circumstances can change over time. That is why we offer free policy reviews every few years.
During a review, we check whether:
- Your monthly benefit still reflects your current income
- Your deferred period matches any employer’s sick pay
- The policy remains suitable and cost-effective
If adjustments are needed, your adviser will explain the options and next steps.
Important Facts About Income Protection Insurance
Income protection has one of the highest claim payment rates among protection products. Over 90% of claims are paid by insurers. Unlike life insurance or critical illness cover, income protection pays a monthly benefit. Payments continue until you return to work or reach the end of the claim period.
Many modern policies include additional support services, such as:
- Access to remote GP appointments
- Mental health and counselling support
- Physiotherapy for muscle and joint conditions
- Health and wellbeing tools and discounts
These features are designed to support recovery and financial stability. For clients seeking tailored solutions, our income protection advisers can explain which features are included with different insurers.
Why Income Protection Is Often Overlooked
Some protection advice focuses mainly on life insurance or critical illness cover. While important, these policies may not provide ongoing income if illness prevents you from working. Employer sick pay and redundancy payments are often limited. Statutory Sick Pay is £116.75 per week as of 2024 and is not enough for most households. Without specialist advice, people may choose policies that are too short, too restrictive, or unsuitable for their job type.
Speaking with a dedicated adviser reduces the risk of gaps in cover and helps ensure the policy works when it is needed most. If you are reviewing your options, our guidance on protection insurance can help you make an informed decision.
Browse Our Income Protection Advisers
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FAQ: Income Protection Advisers
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What does an income protection adviser do? | An income protection adviser helps you find and compare insurance policies that replace your income if you cannot work due to illness or injury. They assess your job type, income level, and personal circumstances to recommend the most suitable cover. |
| Do I need an income protection policy if I already have sick pay? | It depends on how long your employer provides full pay. An adviser can check whether your sick pay is short term and help you choose a plan that starts when your work pay stops, ensuring you are fully covered. |
| How much of my income can be protected? | Most insurers allow you to cover between 50% and 70% of your gross income. An adviser can help you calculate the right level of cover so you are protected without paying for more than you need. |
| Are income protection policies expensive? | The cost depends on your age, job, health, and how long the benefit pays out. Advisers can compare providers to help you find a cost-effective policy that fits your budget. |
| Can self-employed people get income protection? | Yes. Self-employed workers often benefit most from income protection because they do not receive employer sick pay. Advisers can tailor policies to protect your business or personal income. |
| How long will income protection payments last? | You can choose a short-term policy that pays for one or two years, or a long-term policy that pays until retirement or until you are fit to return to work. An adviser will explain the differences and help you decide. |
| Will income protection cover redundancy? | No, income protection covers illness and injury only. Some advisers may suggest separate redundancy or accident and sickness policies for full protection. |
| Can I claim income protection if I already have other insurance? | You can hold multiple policies, but advisers make sure they complement each other so that you do not over-insure or pay for overlapping benefits. |
| Are income protection policies tax-free? | In most cases, the benefits you receive are tax-free if you pay premiums yourself. Advisers will confirm this based on your employment and policy type. |
| How do I find a qualified income protection adviser near me? | Use the Connect Experts platform to search by location, language, and specialism. All advisers listed are FCA-authorised and experienced in income protection advice. |