What income protection options are available for UK nurses?
Yes, a nurse could secure income protection .
Income protection for nurses works the same as income protection for any other occupation.
It’s simply a form of financial protection that could payout up to 70% of your usual monthly income if you’re unable to work for a period of time due to illness or injury.
Working as a nurse is a high-pressure career and it’s common for health workers to suffer illness or injuries related to their job.
Nurses will usually have access to NHS sick pay if employed by the NHS. However, the amount you’ll receive will depend on your length of service.
If you aren’t an NHS nurse, you may have access to SSP (statuary sick pay) or an alternative sick pay scheme from your employer.
Regardless of your sick pay benefit as a nurse, it’s important to have an extra layer of financial aid to top up your sick pay during half pay periods or to provide cover once your sick pay as come to an end.
Why nurses should secure income protection through LifePro
- Whole-of-market comparison from 50+ UK insurers
- Expert advice from FCA-regulated advisors
- No extra cost - insurers pay our commission
- Fast quotes in 60 seconds
- Support throughout your policy lifetime
What is nurses income protection?
There isn’t technically such thing as ‘ nurses income protection’, it simply refers to an income protection policy taken out by a nurse.
Income protection can cover up to 70% of your income in tax-free monthly payments, in the event that you’re unable to work due to illness or injury.
Unlike government funded sick pay, when working in the NHS you’ll receive sick pay based on your length of service. You’ll receive full cover a certain period, followed by a period of half pay.
With certain policies, nurses income protection can allow you to select a deferred period which will align your payments with your sick pay schedule.
As a nurse, you could have access to specialist income protection (as well as doctors, NHS workers or medical workers).
This is where there are terms and conditions that are accommodating to those in the medical profession, covering illness/injuries you may suffer from due to work and allowing your deferred period to work with your sick pay schedule.
For example, one specialised term commonly included is having no exclusions on conducting HIV.
Find your personalised quotes through LifePro today to safeguard your income.
How much income protection does a nurse need?
The amount of income protection insurance you need depends on your individual circumstances and financial commitments. Most experts recommend covering 50-70% of your gross annual income, as this typically provides enough to maintain your standard of living if you're unable to work due to illness or injury.
When calculating how much cover you need, consider:
- Your monthly mortgage or rent payments
- Household bills and utilities
- Childcare costs
- Loan repayments and credit card bills
- Daily living expenses for your family
- Any savings you have that could cover short-term absences
Remember that income protection payments are tax-free, so you may not need to replace your full salary. The key is ensuring you can maintain your essential outgoings and standard of living during a period when you're unable to work.
To get an accurate quote tailored to your needs, use our free comparison service to compare quotes from 50+ UK providers, including Income Protection For Nurses.
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Best income protection for nurses
The best income protection provider for you will depend on your own personal circumstances.
When considering what income protection is best for you, you may want to think about:
- Your NHS sick pay entitlement (6 months full + 6 months half pay)
- Deferred period that aligns with when your sick pay reduces or ends
- Whether the policy covers work-related injuries and infections
- If there are exclusions for blood-borne infections (HIV, Hepatitis)
- Own occupation definition (so you're covered if unable to nurse specifically)
- Monthly benefit amount (typically 50-70% of your nursing income)
- Benefit period (short-term vs until retirement)
- Premium type (guaranteed, reviewable, or age-based)
- Additional features like rehabilitation support
Specialist healthcare worker policies often provide better terms for nurses, including no HIV exclusions and deferred periods designed to integrate with NHS sick pay schedules.
For agency and bank nurses with no sick pay, shorter deferred periods (4-8 weeks) are essential to provide immediate financial support when unable to work.
Use LifePro's whole-of-market comparison service to find specialist income protection policies tailored for nurses and healthcare workers. Our FCA-regulated advisors can help you choose the right deferred period, benefit amount, and policy features for your specific situation.
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