Bricklaying is relentless manual graft, and self-employed brickies get no sick pay. If your back or shoulders go, the income stops. We find cover that pays out.
Bricklayers generally get own-occupation income protection but on a three-month minimum waiting period, with the critical-illness payout on the weaker work-tasks definition. A Personal Sick Pay plan can offer a shorter wait if cashflow matters.
INCOME PROTECTION — YOUR #1 PRIORITY
Your body is your business — protect the income
Years of lifting and repetitive work take a toll. Income protection replaces your earnings while you recover from a back, shoulder or joint injury — or any illness that stops you working.
Up to ~70% of earnings replaced, tax-free
Covers musculoskeletal injury — the top cause of brickie downtime
Bricklaying depends entirely on sustained physical ability, and the self-employed carry all the risk.
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Back, shoulder & joint strain
Repetitive heavy lifting is the leading cause of long-term bricklayer injury.
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No sick pay
Self-employed and CIS brickies earn nothing when off work.
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Site & manual injury
Cuts, crush injuries and falls are everyday site risks.
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Weather-dependent work
Lost days add up; protection smooths income gaps caused by illness or injury.
Recommended Cover
The Right Protection for Bricklayers
Based on the specific risks of your profession, here's what we typically recommend — ranked by priority.
TOP PRIORITY
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Income Protection
★ Top priority for brickies
Replaces up to ~70% of your income if injury or illness stops you working — short or long term.
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Life Insurance
Family & mortgage cover
A lump sum to clear the mortgage and protect your family.
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Critical Illness Cover
Lump sum on diagnosis
A tax-free sum on diagnosis of a serious illness.
Why Your Job Is Different
How We Get Bricklayers a Better Deal
Mainstream insurers often misprice or misunderstand your profession. Here's how we fix that.
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Manual trades priced fairly
We use insurers who don't over-load heavy manual work.
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CIS & self-employed savvy
Cover based on your real take-home, however you're paid.
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Fast-paying policies
Short deferred periods so you're paid quickly after an injury.
Already covered?
Two policies at the same price can pay out very differently
If you already have life insurance, critical illness or income protection, get a free plain-English review — what it does well, where it's weak, and what switching would gain and lose you.
Income protection pays a monthly benefit while you recover, replacing lost earnings.
I'm paid through CIS — can I still get cover?
Yes. We calculate cover from your real earnings whether CIS or self-employed.
Is it expensive for a manual trade?
More affordable than most expect — often from around £12/month for the protection it provides.
How soon can it pay out?
You choose the deferred period — as short as a day or week for the self-employed.
Life Insurance & Income Protection
Bricklayer FAQs — Life Insurance & Income Protection
Common questions UK bricklayers ask about protecting their income and family.
How much does income protection cost for a bricklayer?
Usually from around £12–£25 a month, depending on your earnings, the benefit level and how quickly cover starts after you stop work.
Is income protection worth it for a self-employed bricklayer?
Yes. Years of heavy lifting take a toll, and with no sick pay a back or shoulder injury means no income. The monthly benefit keeps the bills paid while you recover.
Does it cover the back and shoulder injuries brickies get?
Yes — it covers any illness or injury that stops you working, including the musculoskeletal problems that cause most downtime in the trade.
Can I get cover if I am paid through CIS?
Yes. We base the benefit on your real CIS or self-employed earnings.
How fast can the policy pay out?
You pick the deferred period; the self-employed often choose a short wait so the benefit starts quickly after an injury.
How much life cover does a bricklayer need?
Typically enough to clear the mortgage and protect your family — we work out a sensible figure rather than over-insuring.
Role-Specific Detail
Bricklayer-specific questions, answered properly
The operational detail that decides claims for bricklayers — sick pay schemes, licences, contracts and the wording that matters.
Can I get cover if I work on price or piece rate?
Yes. Piece work is normal in bricklaying and insurers assess your actual earnings rather than the payment method. Because piece rate income fluctuates, they will usually average recent years from your accounts or self-assessment to arrive at a realistic benefit figure.
Are cumulative injuries like shoulder wear covered, or only accidents?
Both, provided the condition stops you working and meets the policy definition. Gradual musculoskeletal deterioration from years of lifting is one of the most common reasons bricklayers stop work, and income protection is designed to respond to illness as well as sudden injury.
Does working at height on scaffold affect my terms?
Bricklaying from standard scaffold is generally treated as ordinary construction work rather than as specialist at-height work. The height thresholds that cause problems tend to apply to roofing and steel erection. Being clear that you work from managed scaffold rather than at extreme height helps placement.
Can I get cover if I have already had a back problem?
Often yes, but expect it to be assessed. Insurers may apply an exclusion for that specific area, a loading, or occasionally accept it at standard terms depending on severity and how long ago it resolved. Disclosing it fully is essential — undisclosed back history is a common reason claims fail.
How does a three month waiting period work if I have no savings?
It means you would need to cover the first three months yourself, which is unrealistic for many self-employed brickies. Where a standard policy imposes that minimum, a Personal Sick Pay plan with a much shorter wait is usually the better route, even though the premium per pound of benefit is higher.
Am I covered if I am injured travelling between sites?
Generally yes. Income protection responds to injury however it occurs, subject to policy terms, so an accident driving between jobs would normally be assessed like any other. It is the effect on your ability to work that matters, not where the injury happened.
Does running a small squad of my own change anything?
It can. If you employ or subcontract others who could keep work going while you recover, that may support a longer deferred period and a lower premium. If the work stops entirely without you on site, a shorter wait is usually the right call.