Protect your income. Protect your world.
If illness or injury stops you from working, it doesn’t have to disrupt your life.
What is Income Protection?
Income Protection products are designed to be there as a financial back up if you’re too ill or injured to work. It’s designed to replace
a portion of your income, so things like the bills, food shop, and everyday life can continue while you focus on getting better.
We know that one size doesn’t always fit all, so Polly’s personalised approach means we find you the best option for your lifestyle, whether that’s short term cover or long-term security.
What Income Protection and Accident & Sickness Cover Do
We offer two main types of cover:
Traditional Income Protection (IP)
Our longer term solution designed to cover up to 60% of your salary. We have policies that will pay out for a max term of 1-5 years, or cover that lasts for as long as you need it; either when you return to work or you retire.
Costs may vary depending on your needs, and medical history is taken into account.
Accident & Sickness (A&S)
Our modular, fixed-cost service designed for short-term cover of up to 3 months per claim. Choose from bronze, silver or gold cover options, to find the most affordable plan available. There’s no medical questions* which can make it a good choice for those unable to get cover elsewhere.
Costs are often lower, however this is reflected in the short-term nature of the product.
How does Income Insurance work?
What happens if I’m off work due to illness?
If a doctor signs you off work due to illness or injury, you can make a claim on your Income Insurance. Depending on your policy, payments can start from two weeks after you stop working, you’ll receive monthly payouts, and cover can run for a few months or several years. This can be especially important if you are self-employed, freelance or running your own business.
How much does Income Protection pay?
Traditional Income Protection typically covers up to around 60% of your salary, paid in monthly installments, while our Accident & Sickness cover pays out between £750 to £2,250 per month for a maximum of 3 months per claim, depending on your chosen tier (bronze, silver or gold).
Is Income Insurance suitable for self employed women?
If you are self-employed, you don’t usually receive statutory sick pay. Income protection insurance can help protect your business and your household finances if illness or injury stops you working. Both our income protection and accident and sickness options can work well for self-employed women.
What exclusions should I be aware of?
With traditional Income Protection, pre-existing medical conditions and certain occupations may be excluded or premiums may be higher. Accident & Sickness is typically more inclusive, with pre-existing medical conditions often covered after the policy has been active for 18 months+ and/or if you are symptom free.
What do Income Protection products cover?
What’s Usually Covered?
- Income Protection and Accident & Sickness can cover most illnesses or injuries which stop you from working.
- You can usually claim as many times as you need to while the policy is running.
What’s Not Covered?
- Income Protection and Accident & Sickness will not pay out if you lose your income due to resignation, redundancy or dismissal.
- There may be exclusions on your policy due to pre-existing conditions, depending on the product.
How to apply for Income Protection Insurance
Choosing between income protection insurance and accident and sickness cover can feel complicated. There are waiting periods, payout terms and coverage limits to consider.
Polly makes it simple.
We compare income insurance options based on your job, income and goals. Then we help you secure the policy that best fits your life.
Check out our customer reviews
for products like Income Protection, Life Insurance and more
We’re on the Apps
You can now view and access your policy documents in one place, any time, anywhere. Our Polly app helps keeping on top of your insurance super simple. Manage your payments, learn about our other products and get in touch at the tap of a button.
Income Protection FAQ’s
How much does Income Protection or Accident & Sickness cover cost?
The average premium for existing Polly customers for Income Protection/Accident & Sickness is less than £25 per month!*
*Prices sourced from 2025 customer cross-sell data
Can I get Income Protection & Life Insurance?
Yes, Income Protection and Life Insurance combined can be a great way to secure your family’s finances both today and in the longer term. That’s why many of our customers choose to purchase both products at once.
Can I get Income Protection without medical questions?
All traditional Income Protection products require medical questions for cover. However if you are looking for cover that doesn’t require medical history, we can still help you secure a policy with our Accident & Sickness cover.
What is the difference between Income Protection vs Critical Illness Cover?
Income Protection and Accident & Sickness are designed to provide financial support if you’re unable to work due to illness or injury. Critical Illness Cover doesn’t require you to be out of work to start a claim, you just need to be diagnosed with a severe (or critical) illness. These are often things like stroke, heart attack, or cancer. While Income Protection type products often pay out monthly, Critical Illness typically comes as one lump sum payment.
References
*Pre-existing conditions are covered under the sickness income benefit only once the policyholder is 18 months symptom free. Sickness cover available as an optional extra.