A complete guide to income protection & mental health
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Income protection can pay out if you're unable to work due to mental health conditions like depression, anxiety, or stress. With 1 in 4 people experiencing mental health issues in their lifetime and mental health accounting for up to 24% of all income protection claims, this guide explains how coverage works, whether pre-existing conditions are covered, and how to secure the right policy through LifePro's whole of market comparison service.
Yes, income protection could pay out to you as a result of a mental health condition. Including:
As 1 in 4 people will experience a mental health condition in their lifetime, this can help to provide peace of mind that you could still receive an income if you were unable to work as a result of mental health in the future.
Income protection is an insurance policy that can pay out to you in monthly instalments should you become unable to work due to injury or illness (both physical and mental).
However, if you're currently living with a mental health condition or have experienced one in the past, this will be classed as a pre-existing condition and some providers may exclude this from your cover.
Comparing multiple quotes can assist you in finding suitable cover for your personal circumstances.
LifePro's team can compare income protection quotes from the whole of market, helping you find the best policy to meet your requirements.
Compare Whole of Market Income Protection Quotes »Yes, it's possible to make a claim on income protection due to a mental health condition.
Mental health is often one of the most common reasons providers pay out income protection for.
The table below shows some major UK income protection providers and their most recent pay out statistics:
This information has been taken from each provider's most recent pay out statistics and is correct as of 21/11/24.
Just as employees are entitled to take days off due to physical health conditions, it's also possible to take time off work due to mental health.
If you're signed off work due to a mental health condition, you could claim on your income protection policy.
If your condition meets the definition of incapacity listed in your policy and you're unable to work for longer than your deferred period, you can start to receive payments.
If you're still able to receive the income that's protected, your policy won't pay out to you.
Income protection terminology:
Deferred period - The time in between making a claim and receiving your payments. You'll outline how long you'd like your deferred period to be during the application process (typical options include 4, 8, 12, 26 and 52 weeks). You'll need to be unable to work once your deferred period has ended in order for your payments to commence.
Definition of incapacity - This outlines what makes you eligible to make a claim. Most income protection policies come with an 'own occupation' definition which means you can claim if you're unable to do your specific job role.
Yes, it's possible to claim on income protection as a result of depression.
Depression is one of the most common mental health conditions in the UK, with around 1 in 5 adults experiencing depression.
If you have depression and you're unable to work as a result, you could claim on your income protection policy.
However, if you've been diagnosed with depression before obtaining your policy, it will be classed as a pre-existing condition. This means you may need to pay increased premiums or you may have depression excluded from your cover.
If you develop depression after obtaining your policy and it prevents you from working for longer than your deferred period, you could receive payments.
Yes, it's possible to claim on income protection as a result of stress.
Work-related stress is increasingly common, with an estimated 17 million working days lost per year due to work-related stress, depression or anxiety.
If stress prevents you from working for longer than your deferred period, you could receive income protection payments.
However, if you have a history of stress-related absence before obtaining your policy, insurers may add exclusions or increase your premiums.
Yes, it's possible to claim on income protection as a result of anxiety.
Anxiety disorders are among the most common mental health conditions in the UK, affecting millions of people.
If anxiety prevents you from working and you've passed your deferred period, you could receive income protection payments.
However, if you have a pre-existing anxiety condition, insurers may apply exclusions or increase premiums. Comparing quotes from multiple providers can assist you in finding suitable cover.
Yes, it could be possible to secure income protection if you have a pre-existing mental health condition.
However, your condition may have an impact on the outcome of your application.
Depending on your personal circumstances you may experience inflated premiums or exclusions added to your policy.
The table below details the likely outcomes when applying for income protection with mental health:
If you find that you can't get the cover you want or the quotes you receive are too expensive, you could obtain quotes from a specialist insurer (such as The Exeter).
These are insurers who specialise in offering cover to those with pre-existing medical conditions.
LifePro's team can assist you in comparing quotes from all UK providers, including mainstream and specialist insurers.
By considering all of your available options you can find the right policy to meet your requirements at the best available price. Simply get in touch for your free quotes.
Compare Income Protection Quotes »If you're applying for income protection and you have a pre-existing mental health condition, you'll be required to provide details during the application.
While it can be hard to be upfront about mental health, it's essential that you do so in order for your cover to be valid.
Providing false information or withholding certain details could invalidate your policy, meaning a pay out won't be issued.
Insurance professionals are here to assist, with their main aim being to find you the right cover.
Insurers have the right to ask for a doctor's report from your GP if necessary. However, this can only be obtained with your permission.
If insurers require more information about your mental health condition, they may request a medical report from your GP.
This helps them accurately assess your application and determine appropriate terms for your policy.
You have the right to see this report before it's sent to the insurer, and you can request amendments if anything is inaccurate.
Mental health exclusions can be added to income protection policies, particularly if you have a pre-existing mental health condition.
A mental health exclusion means you won't be able to claim if you're unable to work due to mental health reasons.
However, you could still claim for other reasons such as physical injury or illness.
Not all policies have mental health exclusions. If you don't have a pre-existing condition, you should be able to secure cover without exclusions.
Comparing quotes from multiple providers can assist you in finding a policy that offers the cover you need.
Income protection payments can assist you in covering your essential living costs while you're unable to work due to mental health.
You can use your monthly payments to help cover:
The payments are designed to replace a percentage of your income (typically up to 65-70%), providing financial stability during difficult times.
LifePro can provide expert guidance when applying for income protection with a mental health condition.
Our team has experience working with clients who have pre-existing mental health conditions, and we can assist you in finding suitable cover.
We can:
All quotes are provided free of charge, with no obligation.
Yes, it's possible to secure income protection if you're currently on medication for mental health. However, insurers will want to know details about your condition and treatment. You may experience increased premiums or exclusions depending on your circumstances. Comparing quotes from multiple providers can assist you in finding suitable cover.
You'll need to be off work for longer than your deferred period before you can claim. The deferred period is chosen when you take out your policy and typically ranges from 4 to 52 weeks. Once this period has passed and you're still unable to work, your payments will commence.
No, your income protection claim is between you and your insurer. Your employer won't be informed unless you choose to tell them. However, you'll likely need to be signed off work by your doctor, which your employer will be aware of.
You'll typically need to be signed off work by your doctor to claim on income protection. Your doctor will assess whether your stress is preventing you from working. If they sign you off and you meet your policy's definition of incapacity, you should be able to claim.
To claim income protection for mental health, you'll need: Medical evidence from your GP or mental health professional confirming your diagnosis and that you're unable to work, Completed claim form from your insurer, Evidence that you've passed the deferred period (e.g., sick note covering the full period), Details of any medication or treatment you're receiving. Your insurer may also request: Medical reports from specialists you're seeing, Evidence of counselling or therapy sessions, Information about how your condition affects your daily life and ability to work. The claims process typically takes 2-4 weeks once all evidence is submitted. Most insurers handle mental health claims sensitively and confidentially, with dedicated mental health claims specialists available to support you through the process.
Yes, if you initially had mental health exclusions or premium loadings, you may be able to improve your policy terms if your condition improves. Options include: Applying to remove exclusions after being symptom-free for 2-5 years (varies by insurer), Requesting premium review if your condition has been well-controlled for several years, Taking out a new policy with better terms (though you'll be older, which affects pricing). Process: Contact your current insurer to discuss removing exclusions or reducing loadings, Provide updated medical evidence showing stability and improvement, They'll reassess and may offer improved terms. Alternatively, compare new quotes through LifePro to see if other insurers now offer better terms. Some people keep their existing policy (in case of relapse) and add a new policy for additional coverage without mental health exclusions. Remember: Any new claims on your existing policy may still be subject to original exclusions, so understand the terms before making changes.
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LifePro can assist you in comparing income protection quotes from the whole of market, including providers who specialise in covering those with pre-existing mental health conditions. Our FCA-regulated service provides free, no-obligation quotes with expert guidance throughout the process. Whether you have a mental health condition or want protection against future mental health issues, we can help you find the right policy at the best available price.
