Best income protection insurance in the UK 2026
Finding the best income protection insurance in the UK is an important step towards protecting your standard of living if you're unable to work. With so many insurers and policy options to consider, understanding what sets them apart can be difficult. Our 2026 review reveals which insurers our experts rated as the best income protection providers currently available, based on cover quality, claims performance and customer experience.
Chris Steele founded myTribe and is a CII qualified insurance expert (IF1, IF7, I10) with over ten years of experience in private health insurance. His research is regularly cited by The Times, The Guardian, The Telegraph and other national media.
Full Bio
What is the best income protection insurance in the UK in 2026?
Based on our expert review of product features, customer ratings and historical claims payout data, the best income protection insurance providers in April 2026 are::
- LV= (myTribe rating 5.0 ★)
- Aviva (myTribe rating 5.0 ★)
- The Exeter (myTribe rating 5.0 ★)
- Royal London (myTribe rating 5.0 ★)
- Cirencester Friendly (myTribe rating 5.0 ★)
- Vitality (myTribe rating 4.5 ★)
- Legal & General (myTribe rating 4.5 ★)
- Holloway Friendly (myTribe rating 4.5 ★)
- Zurich (myTribe rating 4.0 ★)
- British Friendly Society (myTribe rating 4.0 ★)
*The product information in this guide is accurate as of April 2026, based on our analysis of the providers’ websites and policy documents. Always carry out your own research or speak with a broker about your own situation before you buy income protection cover. Please note that most of the products in this review are only available through financial advisers.
Best income protection insurance: Key takeaways
- LV= tops our list of the best income protection providers in 2026. It offers straightforward income calculations, full or short-term benefit periods, a budget-friendly option, valuable extra features and high levels of customer satisfaction.
- Aviva, The Exeter, Royal London and Cirencester Friendly also earned five-star ratings for their income protection, performing well across the six key criteria we assessed.
- Cirencester Friendly could be a strong choice for smokers, those in higher-risk occupations or people with more adventurous hobbies, as it doesn’t typically charge extra for these factors.
Why you can trust myTribe Insurance Experts
- 22 income protection products from 17 providers analysed by our experts
- 700+ individual benefits, features and options assessed and compared
- Full income protection and limited payment term options reviewed
- Customer service reviews and claims payout data assessed to reflect real-life customer experiences
- Independent and impartial - we have no commercial relationships with insurers
Our income protection content, including provider ratings, is created by a team of writers and editors who specialise in the protection market. Between them, they have almost three decades of experience researching and explaining income protection. Every article is written and reviewed by qualified insurance experts to ensure accuracy and clarity.
The “best income protection insurance” for you will ultimately depend on your personal circumstances, but in this guide, we give you a useful overview of the leading companies and their policies.
Drawing on the latest product data and our expert insight, these are our highest-rated income protection insurance providers in 2026:
1. LV=
LV= is a mutual insurer dating back to 1843, offering a range of retirement, investment and protection products. Our experts rated LV= as the number one income protection provider in 2026 due to its strong core features, valuable extra benefits and excellent customer service.
Key product details:
- Amount of income you can protect: 60% of your annual gross income
- Maximum annual benefit: £250,000
- Claim payment period: Full policy term, or 1 or 2 years (Budget Income Protection)
- Deferment periods: 3, 6 or 12 months (plus 1 or 2 months depending on your job)
Pros of LV= income protection insurance
- Uses a simple income benefit calculation
- High maximum annual benefit level
- Fracture cover, death benefit, and parent and child cover as standard
- Income can be paid direct to your mortgage lender
- Access to expert medical support through LV= Doctor services
- “Excellent” customer service rating on Trustpilot
Cons of LV= income protection insurance
- Fairly limited choice of deferment periods
LV= income protection insurance policies
LV=’s income protection insurance (Flexible Protection Plan) keeps things simple when calculating how much income you can receive. You can cover up to 60% of your gross annual earnings, capped at £250,000 each year. LV= income protection policies must last for at least five years and end before your 70th birthday. You can choose between guaranteed premiums or reviewable premiums, and deferment periods ranging from one month to 12 months.
LV=’s income protection insurance comes with extra benefits including fracture cover, which pays a lump sum if you’re diagnosed with a specified bone fracture, and a death benefit of up to £10,000. Parent and Child cover is also included as standard, providing a payout if a parent needs to care for their child following an operation, medical procedure, or diagnosis of a specified illness. Meanwhile, LV=’s Income Protection Benefit Guarantee means you’ll receive a minimum monthly payout of £1,500 if your income drops before claiming.
To keep costs down, LV= also offers a Budget Income Protection option, which works the same way but pays out for a shorter maximum period of 12 or 24 months.
LV= customer reviews
LV= has a high 4.5/5 star rating on Trustpilot from over 84,000 reviews. These reviews are based on LV=’s full range of financial products rather than just income protection insurance, but its “excellent” rating suggests that most customers are happy with the service they receive.
LV= payout rate
In 2024, LV= paid out almost £18.2 million in income protection claims to 1,166 individuals who were unable to work. Overall, it paid 90% of all income protection claims that it received.
LV= perks
As an LV= member, you’ll receive a package of additional benefits, including access to medical advice and support services for both you and your partner. LV= Doctor Services included as standard with all LV= protection policies, provides access to six expert medical services, ranging from remote GP appointments and second medical opinions to discounted health assessments.
2. Aviva
Aviva is a household name, serving over 12 million customers across its insurance, wealth and retirement products. Aviva was runner-up in our 2026 review of the best income protection insurance providers, earning a five-star myTribe rating thanks to its high cover limits and wide range of valuable built-in benefits.
Key product details:
- Amount of income you can protect: 65% of your first £60K, then 45% above £65K
- Maximum annual benefit: £240,000
- Claim payment period: Full policy term, or 2 years. (1 year for Living Costs Protection)
- Deferment periods: 4, 8, 13, 26, 52 or 104 weeks
Pros of Aviva income protection insurance
- Generous maximum annual benefit cover
- Extensive range of deferment periods
- Host of extra benefits such as waiver of premium and trauma benefit
- Access to Aviva Digicare+ health and wellbeing services
- High Trustpilot score for customer service
Cons of Aviva income protection insurance
- Only offers one limited payment term (2 years) if you don't want full cover
Aviva income protection insurance policies
Aviva’s flagship income protection insurance policy Income Protection+, lets you cover up to 65% of the first £60,000 you earn, plus 45% of anything above this, up to a maximum of £240,000 per year. It includes a benefit guarantee, meaning that if your salary drops after taking out the policy, your payout won’t automatically reduce.
You can choose a limited benefit period of two years or long-term income protection that pays out while your policy runs. You can select guaranteed or reviewable premiums and increase your cover each year. Income Protection+ comes with a wide range of extra benefits as standard that add further value, including waiver of premium, a back-to-work benefit, hospital benefit and trauma benefit.
Aviva also offers a more affordable income protection cover called Living Costs Protection. It pays out much smaller amounts of between £500 and £1,500 a month for up to 1 year. It’s designed to help cover your essential bills such as rent or mortgage payments, utilities and groceries, while you recover.
Aviva customer reviews
Aviva has a Trustpilot rating of 4.3 out of 5 stars, from over 58,000 customer reviews. Most of these reviews are for Aviva’s other products and services, so it is worth filtering out those that relate specifically to its income protection.
Aviva payout rate
In 2024, Aviva paid out on 90.1% of all income protection claims it received. Overall, it paid £61.8 million across 4,300 income protection claims, by far the highest total of all the income protection insurers we reviewed.
Aviva perks
Aviva income protection cover comes with Aviva DigiCare+, which gives you free access to a host of health and wellbeing services through its app. These include an annual health check, mental health support, consultations with a nutritionist, second medical opinions and discounts on gym and home fitness services.
3. The Exeter
The Exeter, a mutual friendly society established in 1888, ranked third in our list of the best income protection providers. The Exeter performed well in our review and scored five-stars due to its combination of flexible cover, a consistently strong claims record and a simple application process for younger individuals.
Key product details:
- Amount of income you can protect: 60% of your first £100K gross earnings, then 40%
- Maximum annual benefit: £120,000
- Claim payment period: Full policy term, or 2 or 5 years
- Deferment periods: Day 1 or 1, 4, 8, 13, 26 or 52 weeks. (Day 1 and 1 week waiting periods are not available for level guaranteed premiums)
Pros of The Exeter income protection insurance
- Simple, single tier income cover calculation
- No routine medical evidence if you’re under 42
- Three premium options to choose from
- Waiver of premium included as standard
- Consistent claims payout record
Cons of The Exeter income protection insurance
- Limited customer reviews on Trustpilot
The Exeter income protection insurance policies
The Exeter’s Income First plan covers up to 60% of your taxable income on earnings up to £100,000, and 40% above that, with a maximum annual benefit of £120,000. It offers three premium options: level guaranteed premiums, age-costed guaranteed premiums and age-costed reviewable premiums. There’s plenty of choice on the length of your claim period, including full cover for the duration of the policy or a shorter two or five years to reduce costs.
A key feature of The Exeter income protection insurance is simplified underwriting, with no routine medical evidence required if you’re under 42. This makes the application process quicker for younger individuals. If you're a teacher or NHS medical professional, The Exeter also offers waiting periods to align with your existing sick pay arrangements, so that your income protection kicks in exactly when you need it.
There’s also a fixed benefit option that lets you secure your full monthly benefit, up to £7,500 per month, if you provide financial evidence within six months of starting your policy. This gives you peace of mind that even if your earnings drop before you claim, you’ll still receive your fixed benefit. A waiver of premium is included as standard with Income First too.
The Exeter customer reviews
The Exeter has a Trustpilot rating of 4.1 out of 5 stars from 1,331 reviews. While that's a relatively modest sample size compared with some of the big insurance brands, most reviews are positive, showing that members are generally satisfied with the service they’ve received.
The Exeter claims payout
In 2024, The Exeter paid 93% of income protection claims to 1,091 members. Even better is the fact that it has maintained a 93% average payout rate over the past 10 years, which demonstrates a consistent claims track record.
The Exeter perks
Income protection customers receive free access to HealthWise, (opens in a new tab)The Exeter’s member benefits app. It provides unlimited remote GP appointments, plus up to six sessions each year for physiotherapy, mental health support, dietitian advice and lifestyle coaching. Members can also access up to two second medical opinions annually, along with a yearly health MOT.
4. Royal London
Royal London is the UK’s largest mutual for life insurance, pensions, and investments, with over 2.3 million members. Royal London achieved a five-star rating and ranked fourth in our review of the top income protection providers, largely due to its high cover limits and impressive customer satisfaction.
Key product details:
- Amount of income you can protect: 65% of your first £60,000 gross earnings, then 50% above £60,000
- Maximum annual benefit: £250,000
- Claim payment period: Full policy term, or 1, 2 or 5 years
- Deferment periods: 4, 8, 13, 26 or 52 weeks
Pros of Royal London income protection insurance
- Generous maximum annual benefit
- Extensive choice of claim payment periods
- Fracture cover, waiver of premium and hospitalisation cover as standard
- Minimum income guarantee of £1,750
- Highest Trustpilot customer score of all income protection providers
Cons of Royal London income protection insurance
- Low percentage of paid claims in 2024
Royal London income protection insurance policies
Royal London’s Personal Menu Plan income protection covers up to 65% of the first £60,000 of your pre-tax earnings, and 50% of anything above that, up to a maximum of £250,000 a year. It includes a minimum income guarantee of £1,750 a month (or £3,500 for doctors and surgeons), and covers you based on your own occupation. You can choose your payments to last for one year, two years, five years or for the full length of your policy.
A neat feature is the back-to-work payment, which supports you if you have a 13, 26, or 52-week deferred period by providing financial assistance in your first and second months back at work. There’s also a death benefit of 12 times your monthly premium.
Fracture cover and hospitalisation payment is standard with every income protection policy, as well as waiver of premium, which means Royal London will pay your premiums for you if you can’t work due to illness or injury.
Royal London customer reviews
Royal London stands out with the highest Trustpilot rating among the income protection insurance companies we reviewed, scoring a very high 4.7 out of 5. Its customer service is frequently praised in the reviews, although these ratings reflect Royal London’s full range of products, not just income protection insurance. It’s a good indicator of overall satisfaction, but doesn’t tell the full story about its income protection alone.
Royal London payout rate
Royal London's income protection claims payout percentage was 86.8% (opens in a new tab) in 2024. It paid over £8 million in income protection claims to 1,259 customers.
Royal London perks
When you take out a Royal London income protection policy you’ll also get access to some health and wellbeing services through its Helping Hand support. These are available at any time while your policy is active. The support includes virtual GP appointments, physiotherapy advice, mental health support and help from a dedicated nurse.
5. Cirencester Friendly
Founded in 1890, Cirencester Friendly is a mutual organisation that specialises in income protection insurance. Cirencester Friendly scored five stars in our review of the best income protection insurance providers, standing out in its approach to underwriting and market-leading claims payout rates.
Key product details:
- Amount of income you can protect: 65% of your gross earnings
- Maximum annual benefit: £52,000
- Claim payment period: Full policy term, or 2 years
- Deferment periods: 1, 4, 8, 13, 26 or 52 weeks
Pros of Cirencester Friendly income protection insurance
- No premium loading for smokers, higher risk jobs and most hazardous hobbies
- Comprehensive range of deferment periods
- Split deferred period option
- Good mix of added value benefits and perks
- Highest income protection claims payout ratio in 2024
Cons of Cirencester Friendly income protection insurance
- Low maximum annual benefit
- There are no customer service reviews on Trustpilot
Cirencester Friendly income protection insurance policies
Cirencester's Friendly's My Earnings Protected covers up to 65% of your gross earnings, with a maximum payment of £52,000 per year. The income calculation is easy to grasp, but the annual benefit cap is the lowest in this guide. The policy provides income protection cover on “own occupation” terms, meaning you’re protected if you can’t do your specific job. Premiums are guaranteed unless you choose an annual escalating benefit.
You can choose short-term income protection, which limits payments to a maximum of two years per claim, or long-term cover that pays out until your policy ends. Deferred periods range from one to 52 weeks, and there's a split deferred option to stagger when your income payments begin. This is useful if your income gradually reduces during a prolonged illness.
Cirencester Friendly’s income protection insurance has a favourable approach to underwriting by not charging more if you are a smoker, have a higher-risk job or take part in hazardous hobbies (except motorsports). You can customise your policy with optional add-ons such as severe injury cover, fracture and hospitalisation benefit, or immediate death benefit, though these will increase the cost.
Cirencester Friendly customer reviews
The absence of customer reviews on Trustpilot means it's tricky to gauge how customers feel about Cirencester Friendly’s level of service. However, it has won plenty of industry awards for its service, including Best Protection Service at the 2025 Investment Life & Pensions Moneyfacts Awards.
Cirencester Friendly payout rate
Cirencester Friendly boasts the highest income protection claims payout rates in the market. In 2024, it paid an impressive 95.8% of claims, the same high level as in 2023. This consistency suggests that Cirencester Friendly has a reliable track record in supporting its members when it matters most. In total, 1,354 claims were paid to its members last year, worth over £10 million.
Cirencester Friendly perks
Cirencester Friendly’s income protection insurance is packed with added value benefits that go beyond financial cover. These include 24/7 access to a virtual GP service, emotional support and second medical opinions via a Personal Nurse Adviser, and a personalised health and wellbeing programme. Members also get a £2,500 children’s critical illness benefit. Other additional perks include free legal advice and discounts with brands such as Apple and M&S.
6. Vitality
Vitality has been shaking things up in the protection market since it hit the UK in 2007, and that fresh approach carries through to its income protection insurance. It's the only income protection provider that rewards you for staying fit and healthy, which helped to earn it a four-and-a-half myTribe star rating for 2026.
Key product details:
- Amount of income you can protect: 60% of your first £60,000 gross earnings, and 50% above £60,000
- Maximum annual benefit: £200,000
- Claim payment period: Full policy term, or 1, 2 or 5 years
- Deferment periods: 7 days (self-employed only), 1, 2, 3, 6, 12, 24, or 60 months
Pros of Vitality income protection insurance
- Income Boost your monthly benefit, based on your Vitality status
- Wide choice of deferment periods and a split deferment option
- Discounts and rewards for healthy living
- Unlimited Recovery Benefit while claiming
- Impressive Trustpilot customer service rating and strong claims payout rate
Cons of Vitality income protection insurance
- Maximum income cover calculation rules are more complex than others
- No extra wellbeing or medical support services
Vitality income protection insurance policies
Vitality’s income protection insurance (Personal Protection Plan) covers 60% of your verified earnings up to £5,000 a month, plus 50% of anything between £5,000 and £15,000. There’s an overall cap on payouts at £200,000 a year. An Earnings Guarantee, which guarantees a monthly benefit up to £1,500 per month (£8,000 if you verify your earnings within the first six months) adds some extra certainty.
You can choose from a wide range of deferment periods, including a seven-day option for the self-employed, and even split cover across two waiting periods. If you're concerned about inflation, you can choose for your benefit to increase in line with the Retail Prices Index.
As you’d expect from Vitality, there’s an incentive to look after your health. Its unique income booster can top up your monthly benefit by up to 20% for six months depending on your Vitality status. You also get an unlimited Recovery Benefit that gives you access to private healthcare support during a claim. This includes physiotherapy, mental health support, cancer support and rehab for your nervous system.
Vitality customer reviews
Vitality has an excellent score of 4.5 out of five stars on Trustpilot, although this relates to all of its protection and health insurance products. Most reviews speak positively of the customer service that Vitality has delivered, although some income protection insurance customers have had disappointing claims experiences.
Vitality claims payout
Vitality paid 94.2% of Income Protection claims in 2024. It paid 557 claims worth £1.8 million, up from £1 million the previous year.
Vitality perks
Vitality income protection cover includes access to its renowned Vitality Programme, which rewards healthy living. Earning Vitality points through an active lifestyle, lets you unlock discounts on wearable tech and gym memberships, as well as rewards like Vue or ODEON cinema tickets and handcrafted drinks from Caffè Nero. If you add Optimiser to your plan (for an additional cost) and maintain a healthy lifestyle, you can also get Vitality’s best premium which is 30% lower than its standard premium.
7. Legal & General
Legal & General is a major financial services provider, with over 10 million customers across its range of insurance, retirement and savings products. Our experts rated Legal & General four-and-a-half stars for its income protection insurance thanks to its strong core cover and range of options to suit different budgets.
Key product details:
- Amount of income you can protect: 60% of your first £60K, then 50% above £60K
- Maximum annual benefit: £240,000
- Claim payment period: Full policy term or 1 or 2 years
- Deferment periods: 4, 8, 13, 26 or 52 weeks
Pros of Legal & General income protection insurance
- High annual maximum benefit cover
- Comes with Income Guarantee of £1,500
- Includes life cover benefit and waiver of premium as standard
- Low Start plan for those seeking lower initial premiums
- Legal & General’s Wellbeing Support Service offers extra value
Cons of Legal & General income protection insurance
- Latest income protection claims payout rates are low
Legal & General income protection insurance policies
Legal & General’s Income Protection Benefit covers up to 60% of your gross annual income on earnings up to £60,000, and 50% on any income above that. The maximum annual benefit is £240,000. Premiums are guaranteed, unless you choose the increasing benefit option, in which case the premiums and cover rise each year. For more affordable cover you can pick the Low Cost option which limits the payment period to 12 or 24 months.
Legal & General income protection cover offers a stepped benefit letting you choose two different deferred periods and monthly income amounts. Other benefits that come as standard include waiver of premium, hospitalisation benefit, an income guarantee of £1,500 (£3,000 if you’re an NHS dentist, doctor, midwife, nurse or surgeon) and life cover worth 12 times your monthly premium.
Legal & General also offers a Low Start Income Protection policy with lower initial premiums that increase annually with your age. This may be a good fit if you are self-employed or want to manage costs in the early stages of your career or business. The maximum annual benefit is lower though, capped at £120,000, and you get fewer extra features than Legal & General’s standard Income Protection Benefit.
Legal & General customer reviews
Legal & General has a Trustpilot rating of 4.3 out of 5 stars from over 29,000 reviews which is classified as "excellent". As with most big insurers, these ratings apply to Legal & General’s full suite of financial products, so filter the reviews to find how its income protection insurance customers rate the service they have received.
Legal & General payout rate
Legal & General had an income protection claims payout rate of 84% in 2024, which is the lowest rate of all the providers in our top ten list. It paid 797 income protection claims totalling £7.9 million.
Legal & General Perks
Beyond financial protection, Legal & General income protection insurance offers extra perks in the form of Wellbeing Support provided by RedArc and rehabilitation support services to help you return to work. There’s also a free Care Concierge service, so you and your family can speak to a later-life care expert for advice on care options.
8. Holloway Friendly
Founded in 1875, Holloway Friendly is a mutual society that invented the concept of income protection insurance in the UK. Holloway Friendly earned four-and-a-half stars in our 2026 income protection insurance ratings largely on the basis of its simple income calculations and no standard exclusions.
Key product details:
- Amount of income you can protect: 65% of your gross earnings
- Maximum annual benefit: £65,000
- Claim payment period: Full policy term or 1, 2 or 5 years.
- Deferment periods: 1, 4, 8, 13, 26 or 52 weeks
Pros of Holloway Friendly income protection insurance
- Straightforward, single tier income cover calculation
- Three choices of premiums
- Additional benefits such as terminal illness cover and rehabilitation support
- Drop in Earnings guarantee of £1,500
- No standard exclusions in its terms and conditions
Cons of Holloway Friendly income protection insurance
- Low maximum annual benefit limit
- "Average" Trustpilot customer service rating
Holloway Friendly income protection insurance policies
Holloway Friendly, is one of the few providers that doesn’t use a tiered system to work out how much of your income you can insure. Its My Sick Pay income protection insurance simply covers up to 65% of your pre-tax earnings, with a maximum annual benefit of £65,000. This straightforward calculation can provide more cover, especially for higher earners.
Holloway Friendly lets you opt for benefit periods of one year, two years, or full cover until the policy ends. You can choose from three premium types: guaranteed, age-costed or reviewable, and link your cover to the cost of living so that your protection keeps pace with inflation.
A welcome feature of Holloway Friendly income protection cover is its Drop in Earnings Guarantee, ensuring a minimum payout of up to £1,500 a month if your income falls after taking it out. Additional benefits include up to 6 months’ sick pay if you're diagnosed with a terminal illness, rehabilitation support and a financial top-up for up to a year if you return to work part-time or in a lower-paid role.
Holloway Friendly customer reviews
Holloway Friendly has a Trustpilot rating of 3.7 out of 5, although this is based on a very small number of reviews. However, many customers praise the quality of service they’ve received, and because Holloway Friendly only offers income protection insurance, you can be confident that all its reviews are relevant.
Holloway Friendly payout rate
In 2024, Holloway Friendly paid out 88.3% of the income protection claims it received, up by 2% on 2023. It paid out £5.13 million across 607 claims, with 96.5% of decisions made within 30 days.
Holloway Friendly perks
If you take out Holloway Friendly income protection cover you and your family will get access to HealthHero which gives you unlimited free access to GP consultations. There’s also extra support in the shape of free advice and counselling helplines. Finally, you’ll be eligible for Holloway’s member support fund which can provide financial support and allow you to pause your payments for up to six months.
9. Zurich
Zurich is a global insurer active in the UK market, providing a range of protection products including income protection. Zurich earned four stars in our 2026 income protection insurance ratings reflecting its comprehensive cover and flexible features, particularly for those with variable incomes.
Key product details:
- Amount of income you can protect: 65% of your first £60,000 gross earnings, and 45% above £60,000.
- Maximum annual benefit: £240,000
- Claim payment period: Full policy term or 24 months.
- Deferment periods: 4, 8, 13, 26, 52 or 104 weeks
Pros of Zurich income protection insurance
- High maximum annual income cap
- Includes Maximum Benefit Guarantee and Minimum Benefit Guarantee
- Return to work package and waiver of premium as standard
- Ability to enhance cover with additional benefits
- Strong claims payout rate in 2024
Cons of Zurich income protection insurance
- Lowest Trustpilot customer service score
- Only one choice if you want a limited payment term
Zurich income protection insurance policies
Zurich Income Protection covers up to 65% of the first £60,000 of your gross income and 45% above that, up to a maximum of £240,000 each year. You can choose payments for the full policy term or a shorter two-year period to reduce costs, along with single or dual deferment options
Zurich offers a Maximum and Minimum Benefit Guarantee, usefull if you are a contractor or self-employed and your income fluctuates. The maximum benefit guarantee means that if you can’t work and your insured benefit is within 10% of the maximum allowed based on your earnings, Zurich will pay the full monthly amount (minus any ongoing income). Otherwise, the Maximum Benefit Guarantee will cover your monthly benefit up to £1,500 if your salary has dropped.
Zurich’s income protection cover includes a return to work package so you can receive reduced benefits if you go back part-time or to a lower-paid role, plus waiver of premium so you don’t pay while claiming. You can add extra benefits for an additional cost, such as multi-fracture cover and Income Protection Enhanced, which includes trauma cover, a hospital stay benefit and a funeral benefit.
Zurich customer reviews
Zurich currently holds a Trustpilot score of 3.5 out of 5, which is considered “average” and is the lowest customer service rating among the income protection insurance providers in our guide. However, this score reflects feedback across all of Zurich’s insurance and retirement products, so it’s worth reviewing individual comments to see if customers rate its income protection service more favourably.
Zurich claims payout
Zurich paid over 95% of all income protection claims it received in 2024, totalling £4.8 million, the second highest of the income protection providers in this guide.
Zurich perks
Zurich income protection policyholders get access to Zurich Support Services which is a free health and wellbeing service for you and your family. This service includes up to six sessions of professional counselling, along with expert support for a range of work-life balance challenges, such as career coaching, debt and money management and family caregiving support.
10. British Friendly
British Friendly, founded in 1902, is a mutual society purely focused on income protection insurance. British Friendly was rated four stars, due to its strong support for people who often struggle to get income protection insurance elsewhere, such as the self-employed, manual workers and those in the gig economy.
Key product details:
- Amount of income you can protect: 65% of your first £60,000 gross earnings, then 45% up to £100,000.
- Maximum annual benefit: £57,000
- Claim payment period: Full policy term or 1, 2 or 5 years
- Deferment periods: 4, 8, 13, 26 or 52 weeks (1 week option on age-costed guaranteed premiums)
Pros of British Friendly income protection insurance
- Comprehensive choice of claim payment periods
- Range of optional extras to tailor cover
- Ability to have income paid weekly or monthly
- Income can be paid directly to your mortgage lender
- Free digital health services and access to discretionary financial support
Cons of British Friendly income protection insurance
- Restrictive maximum annual benefit
- Small number of customer reviews on Trustpilot
British Friendly income protection insurance policies
British Friendly offers two income protection plans: Protect and Breathing Space. Protect is its main product and is aimed at those with stable incomes. It covers 65% of your gross earnings up to £60,000, and 45% on anything between £60,000 and £100,000. The maximum income you can receive each year is £57,000, lower than most other providers.
You can personalise your policy by choosing level guaranteed or age-costed guaranteed premiums, picking your deferment period, and deciding whether you want the payout to last one, two, or five years, or until your policy ends.
Breathing Space is designed for those with irregular or unpredictable incomes, such as the self-employed or gig workers. There’s no financial underwriting but payouts are lower (£541 to £1,250) and limited to one or two years. Also, keep in mind that with this plan your premiums will go up each year as you get older. Both of British Friendly’s income protection policies let you add extras like Fracture Cover and Children’s Critical Illness Cover at an extra cost.
British Friendly customer reviews
British Friendly has a Trustpilot rating of 4.2 out of 5, with 72% of customers awarding it the full five stars. As it only offers income protection insurance, all reviews are directly relevant. However, British Friendly's Trustpilot rating is based on a relatively small number of reviews.
British Friendly payout rate
British Friendly paid out 86% of income protection claims in 2024, which is lower than many of the other top providers in the market. In total, more than £5 million was paid out across 1,023 new claims.
British Friendly perks
British Friendly’s income protection cover comes with a bunch of useful extras free of charge. Its Mutual Benefits programme lets you and your family tap into a range of digital health services, like 24/7 GP appointments, mental health support, physio sessions, second medical opinions and discounted annual health checks. On top of that, its BF Care discretionary benefit can pay out up to £2,000 if you go through certain major life events.
How the best income protection insurance providers compare
The table below shows how the top 10 income protection insurance providers in our guide compare based on our experts ratings, Trustpilot customer reviews and the percentage of income protection claims paid.
Which other providers offer income protection insurance?
Beyond our top 10 income protection insurance providers there are some other providers that you might want to explore to find the best policy for your needs. However, keep in mind that some of these insurers only offer income protection that will pay for a limited time period.
Other income protection insurance providers to consider include:
- dg Mutual
- Dentists’ Provident
- Guardian
- National Friendly
- NFU Mutual
- Shepherds Friendly
- Wesleyan
How we choose the best income protection insurance in the UK
We assess providers using multiple layers of research to determine our myTribe income protection insurance ratings. These include:
- Cover options and policy terms: We analyse each insurer's income protection product range in detail to assess how comprehensive and flexible their policies are.
- Trustpilot scores: We review Trustpilot ratings and real-life customer feedback to gauge how income protection policyholders rate the quality of service they’ve received.
- Claims payout rates: We research each provider’s most recent income protection insurance claims payout statistics to assess their reliability for paying claims.
We use this data to evaluate each provider across six key metrics outlined in our methodology below. Our goal is to help you find the best income protection policy based on quality, not just price.
We’ve also ranked the best life insurance, best over 50s life insurance and best health insurance providers in the UK in separate guides.
Our income protection insurance rating methodology
Research from the Financial Conduct Authority shows that finding the right cover and features is a key reason why customers chose a specific income protection insurance provider. However, almost half of income protection policyholders (47%) said that they found product information difficult to understand.
The myTribe 2026 income protection insurance ratings highlight the strengths and weaknesses of each provider. We analyse each insurer’s most comprehensive income protection insurance product across six core categories so that you can compare your options.
What we assess
- Cover Types & Limits looks at how much income you can protect, maximum benefit limits, the definitions of disability used, and the range of deferment and claims periods available.
- Additional Benefits & Options considers extra protection that’s included as standard or optional, such as waiver of premium, fracture cover, hospitalisation benefits, and added-value services like wellbeing support or remote GP access.
- Eligibility and Accessibility reviews who can qualify for cover, including age limits and the insurer’s underwriting approach.
- Customer reviews & Clarity examines independent customer feedback on service quality and how clearly insurers explain their policies and terms in their product documents.
- Claims Payout & Support analyses the latest income protection insurance claims data and how well insurers support customers through the claims process.
- Policy Flexibility assesses how easy it is to adjust your cover over time, including changing your benefit level, deferment period or policy end date.
Each of the above categories is weighted based on what matters most to income protection customers, with these scores combined to produce an overall star rating.
To learn more about how our income protection insurance star ratings work, read our full methodology.
What is income protection insurance?
Income protection is a type of insurance that replaces part of your salary with a regular payment if you are unable to work as a result of illness or injury. It gives you the reassurance that you can continue to pay your household bills, from mortgage or rent to utilities, until you are back on your feet. A significant benefit is that you can claim as many times as you need to while your income protection policy is in place.
Income protection insurance should not be confused with other types of protection. For instance, critical illness cover will provide a one-off lump sum if you are diagnosed with a serious health condition, such as cancer, heart attack or stroke, while unemployment protection will usually pay a tax-free monthly sum for up to a year if you are made redundant. An income protection insurance policy does not provide unemployment cover.
The amount you will receive won’t replace your whole salary, but could be as much as 65% of your gross monthly income – you won’t pay income tax on these payments, bringing the overall monthly payments close to what your take-home pay would have been.
You may be eligible for statutory sick pay (SSP) from your employer for up to 28 weeks when you first go on sick leave. Income protection could provide a useful financial buffer after SSP has run out. An income protection policy will include a ‘deferred’ period, which is essentially a waiting period before your insurer will start paying you. Deferred periods can range from four weeks to two years, with common options including eight, 13, 26 or 52 weeks.
You’ll need to decide whether to choose a short-term policy that provides monthly payments for a limited time – typically 12 and 24 months – or whether you’d prefer a long-term policy that lasts until the end of your policy (usually set up to match when you retire). Insurers typically expect you to do this before your 70th birthday.
To receive payments from your income protection policy, you’ll need to meet your insurer’s “definition of incapacity.” These can be:
- Own occupation: whether you can do the job you carried out before your illness or injury.
- Any suited occupation: whether you can carry out an alternative job, based on your skills, professional qualifications and work history.
- Any occupation: whether you can work in any employment at all.
- Activities of daily living: whether you can carry out certain tasks, such as writing, walking, or bending, which are part of daily life. It’s often used if you are a houseperson or work low hours.
How long it will take your insurance company to settle your claim will depend on the complexity of your case and whether the insurer requires additional medical reports – but given that the shortest waiting period until you can receive your claim is usually four weeks, both you and your insurer can use this time to get all the paperwork needed to make a decision.
What are the main types of income protection?
There isn’t a ‘one size fits all’ cover to protect your finances in the event of an illness or injury, but a big factor is how long you need the policy for, which falls into two main categories:
- Long-term income protection: This will cover you against sickness and injury for as long as you need it and have cover in place – until you return to work, retire or die.
- Short-term income protection: Also known as limited payment term income protection insurance, this generally pays you a monthly income limited to one or two years, though some insurers offer cover up to five years.
A third option available is a Holloway contract, which offers income protection with an investment element that pays out a lump sum when the policy ends. A few Friendly Societies offer these policies and they can only be sold through financial advisers that are regulated for investment business by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
Income protection insurance should be a priority for most working people, given the financial impact that a long-term illness or injury would have on the average household’s ability to meet living expenses and financial commitments. Research from the FCA suggests that one in ten people don’t have any cash savings that they could draw on in an emergency, while 21% have less than £1,000.
If you are self-employed, then you may be an ideal candidate for income protection. Not only would you have your household bills to pay but you’ll also have the additional worry of keeping your business afloat while you’re off work. With no sick pay from an employer to cushion the blow, household bills and debts could soon mount up, leaving you facing financial hardship.
If you are employed but your employer only offers the minimum support of statutory sick pay for 28 weeks, it might be sensible to have income protection insurance in place. With SSP only paying £118.75 a week, it's unlikely to be enough to pay essential bills and to clothe and feed a family.
Income protection is especially worth considering if you:
- have a young family or other dependants and are the main breadwinner
- have a mortgage or other debts (e.g credit cards) that you wouldn’t be able to repay while you’re ill
- have little or no savings you can fall back on.
However, Income protection insurance may not be right for everyone, so consider how else you could support yourself if you were sick or injured:
- Employer-provided cover: Some employers include income protection as part of their benefits package. Check your employee handbook or speak to your HR department to see what cover you may have.
- State benefits: Once your SSP ends, you may be eligible for other benefits, such as Universal Credit or Employment and Support Allowance.
- Personal savings: You may have savings you can rely on – though these could soon dwindle if you have no income.
- Support from your family: You may have a partner, spouse or parent who could help support you financially while you recover.
How much income protection do you need?
To work out how much income protection cover you may need, start by writing a list of all your essential monthly outgoings. This should include everything from mortgage or rent and utility bills to food and living costs. Keep in mind that some costs may increase while you’re recovering at home, such as your energy bills, while others may disappear completely – like the cost of your commute.
As mentioned earlier, insurers will also set limits to the monthly payment you’ll be entitled to, paying from about half to two thirds your usual gross monthly salary. However, payments are often on a sliding scale depending on your annual salary. For example, insurers may offer you a higher percentage or your salary – say 60% or 65% for the first £60,000 you earn, but then offer a lower amount – say 45% or 50% – for any income over £60,000.
There will also be a cap on the maximum amount of income protection insurance you can receive – for example, a maximum payment of £240,000 a year.
According to data from the FCA, the average monthly cost of income protection insurance is £40. However, how much you’ll pay for income protection will depend on your personal circumstances and the level of cover you choose. When calculating your income protection premium insurers typically consider the following factors:
- Your age: The older you are when you take out a policy, the higher your premiums will be.
- Occupation: Jobs with a higher risk of injury or illness, such as firefighters or scaffolders typically attract higher premiums.
- Income level: The more of your salary you choose to insure, the more you’ll pay.
- Length of policy: Short-term income protection insurance cover of one, two or five years will have a cheaper cost than a long-term plan that pays until your policy ends or you retire.
- Deferment period: Longer deferment periods before your payment kicks in will mean more affordable premiums.
- Definition of incapacity: Premiums are typically lower if you're willing to accept a broader definition (e.g. being unable to work in any job, rather than your own job).
- Medical history: You’ll pay less if you are in good health. Pre-existing medical conditions may increase costs or lead to exclusions.
- Lifestyle factors: Smoking, heavy drinking, high BMI, or participating in high-risk hobbies can all push up the price.
- Type of cover: Whether you take out level cover that remains the same throughout the policy, or increasing cover where your premiums and benefit rise each year, will impact the cost. Adding optional extras such as hospitalisation benefit or fracture cover will also raise your premium with some providers.
For more insight into the cost of income protection read our guide.
How can I reduce the cost of income protection cover?
If you’re worried about whether you can afford the monthly premiums, there are ways to reduce the cost of an income protection insurance policy.
One way of doing this is to agree to wait longer until your income protection payments kick in – the longer you defer, the cheaper your premiums will be. But you’ll need to make sure you have enough money to see you through the deferment period. Perhaps you can use savings to tide you over the first few months of sick leave or you may have a generous employer who pays sick leave beyond the statutory amount.
Choosing a short-term policy, which generally only offers cover for one, two or five years, will be cheaper than a long-term plan that pays out until you retire. However, you’ll need to be comfortable with the idea that your payment might finish before you’re ready to return to work.
Another way to reduce premiums is to insure a smaller percentage of your income. This means lower monthly premiums but also smaller benefits if you become ill or injured. It might be an option that suits you if you have a partner who can help financially, no dependants or can manage on a reduced income for a time.
What are the most common reasons for income protection claims?
If your job is deskbound at the computer, you won’t be surprised to learn that the highest number of successful income protection claims in 2024 was for musculoskeletal problems, such as neck and back pain. This accounted for 34% of claims last year according to the Association of British Insurers (ABI).
Research by LV= supports this, with almost two in five (39%) people making a claim to the insurer for musculoskeletal issues. One in five (21%) claimed after a cancer diagnosis, while mental health conditions accounted for 15% of claims. Heart and stroke-related conditions each accounted for 3% of claims in 2024.
Can you get income protection if you have a medical condition?
If you have a pre-existing medical condition, or there is family history of a serious medical condition, it can be harder to get income protection, and it’s likely to be more expensive. Some insurers will add a pre-existing illness to a list of exclusions, only insuring you for a new illness or injury. Insurers will use their own set of eligibility criteria to assess your application. So while some insurers might accept a health issue, others might not.
You must declare pre-existing health conditions, as failure to do so could result in your insurer rejecting any future claim.
Once you have worked out your monthly budget, taking into account savings you could dip into and benefits you might receive while on sick leave, you can start researching suitable income protection insurance cover. Here are five tips to help you choose the right income protection provider:
- Decide what’s important to you. Could you manage financially with a long deferment period or would you need an income quickly? Check that the waiting periods offered by insurers align with your financial situation and how long you could realistically cope without a payment.
- Would you prefer long-term protection that will see you through until you reach retirement age, or is short-term cover more affordable for you? Also, read the small print to see if any pre-existing medical conditions or any family history of medical issues are not covered.
- Customer service matters, especially when you're unwell and relying on timely support. No one likes hanging on the phone to speak to customer service or insurers that are slow to handle a claim. You can get a snapshot of whether an insurer is treating its customers fairly by reading online reviews on Trustpilot.
- Most protection providers now publish their claims statistics online each year. Review an insurer’s claim history to see what percentage of claims were settled. According to the ABI, 80% of all individual and group income protection insurance claims were settled in 2024.
- Using a financial adviser or insurance broker to search the market can take the stress out of finding the right income protection. Many income protection policies are only available through advisers, and their specialist knowledge can prove invaluable.
Is income protection worth it?
Ultimately, whether income protection is worth it for you depends on your personal situation and how much financial risk you're willing to take. If you are unsure about buying income protection insurance, here are some pros and cons to to help you decide:
Income protection insurance pros
- Income protection can provide a regular income, helping you stay on top of your bills and outgoings.
- It can pay out for many years (often up to your retirement age) depending on your cover.
- You are not limited to one claim – with income protection you can claim as and when you need it during the policy term.
- Unlike critical illness insurance, which only pays out for specific illnesses, income protection generally covers any illness or injury that prevents you from working.
- Besides a monthly payment, you may be able to access rehabilitation services and a wellbeing team.
Income protection insurance cons
- Receiving monthly payments after a claim may affect some means-tested benefits.
- Income protection policies can exclude pre-existing medical conditions or charge more to cover them.
- It can be expensive if you are older, want a high level of cover or work in a high-risk job.
- You’ll have to get through your chosen deferred period before you receive your first payment.
- Income protection insurance can be complicated with varying definitions of incapacity, income calculations, exclusions and conditions to understand.
What our readers say
We are rated Excellent on Google from 150+ reviews. Our reviews relate to the service provided by both myTribe and its partners.
"The information was very helpful and informative. They put me in touch with an extremely helpful broker. I am now moving to a different provider, on a better policy, at a much reduced premium."
"Absolutely straightforward experience. The lesson? NEVER accept a renewal quote without shopping around!"
"Saved time and gave me a lot of insight. I could not have done that on my own."
Disclaimer: This is general information, not personal advice. Speak to a qualified broker before making a decision. Our broker partners compare policies from a panel of leading UK health insurers, but not all insurers may be available.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who has the best income protection insurance?
LV= topped our latest income protection insurance provider ratings, but the best income protection provider will be personal to you and depend on your own needs and budget. That’s why you should always compare income protection insurance options and the strengths and weaknesses of each provider.
Does income protection increase in line with inflation?
You can opt for payments to increase in line with inflation, with insurers typically using the Retail Prices Index to track inflation. Premiums will be higher but you will have peace of mind that you should remain adequately insured.