Most office and creative freelancing is rated as low-risk, so cover is usually full own-occupation with no occupational loading. If you work through a limited company, Executive Income Protection lets you cover dividends too.
INCOME PROTECTION — YOUR #1 PRIORITY
Irregular income still needs a safety net
Freelancers get no sick pay. We average your earnings to set a claimable benefit — and if you trade through a limited company, Executive Income Protection can cover salary plus dividends.
Cover tailored to variable freelance income
Executive Income Protection for limited company freelancers — covers dividends
Mental health and burnout absence covered
Cover from around £9/month
≈ £2,100/mo
Example benefit on a £36,000 average income (up to ~70%)
Freelancing means freedom, but also full responsibility for your own safety net. Here's what to plan for.
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No sick pay
No client or employer covers you when illness strikes.
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Irregular income
Feast-or-famine earnings make a sudden income shock especially damaging.
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RSI & burnout
Long screen hours bring repetitive strain and mental health risk.
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Personal financial exposure
Your mortgage and bills don't pause when your income does.
Recommended Cover
The Right Protection for Freelancers
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
The essential policy
Replaces income if illness or injury stops you working — tailored to variable freelance earnings.
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Life Insurance
Affordable family cover
Low-cost cover to protect dependants and clear debts.
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Critical Illness Cover
Optional cushion
A lump sum on diagnosis if your budget allows.
Why Your Job Is Different
How We Get Freelancers a Better Deal
Mainstream insurers often misprice or misunderstand your profession. Here's how we fix that.
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Variable income understood
We average your earnings to set a realistic, claimable benefit.
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Budget-flexible
Cover that scales with feast-or-famine freelance income.
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Mental health & RSI covered
The right policy covers burnout and repetitive strain claims.
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.
We average recent earnings to set a benefit you can actually claim, even if your monthly income swings.
Is income protection affordable for freelancers?
Yes — cover often starts around £9/month and the benefit level is flexible.
Does it cover burnout or stress?
With the right income protection, yes — mental health absences can be claimed.
I'm a new freelancer — can I get cover?
Usually yes, though some insurers prefer a short trading history. We'll find one that fits your situation.
Life Insurance & Income Protection
Freelancer FAQs — Life Insurance & Income Protection
Common questions UK freelancers ask about protecting their income and family.
How do you insure an irregular freelance income?
We average your recent earnings to set a benefit you can actually claim, even when your monthly income swings.
How much does income protection cost for a freelancer?
Cover often starts from around £9 a month, with the benefit level flexible to suit feast-or-famine income.
Is income protection worth it for a freelancer?
Yes. With no employer sick pay, illness or injury means no income — a monthly benefit keeps the essentials covered while you recover.
Can I cover dividends if I work through a limited company?
Yes. Executive Income Protection covers salary plus dividends and can be paid by your company, so freelancers who incorporate are not under-insured.
Does it cover burnout or stress?
With the right policy, yes — mental-health-related absence such as stress and burnout can be claimed.
How much life insurance does a freelancer need?
Enough to protect dependants and clear any debts; cover is affordable and we tailor it to your situation.
Role-Specific Detail
Freelancer-specific questions, answered properly
The operational detail that decides claims for freelancers — sick pay schemes, licences, contracts and the wording that matters.
How do insurers handle income that varies wildly year to year?
They normally average your earnings over two or three years from self-assessment or accounts, which smooths out exceptional highs and lows. If your income has grown substantially, ask whether the most recent year can be used — some insurers will consider it with supporting evidence.
Can I get cover if I have multiple clients rather than one employer?
Yes, and having several clients is not a problem. Insurers assess your total self-employed earnings rather than who pays them. If anything, a spread of clients can present well because it shows the income is not dependent on a single relationship.
Does income protection cover me if a client simply stops giving me work?
No. Income protection responds to illness and injury that prevent you working. Losing a client, a contract ending or a quiet period are commercial risks rather than insurable health events, and no mainstream policy covers them.
Am I covered for repetitive strain injury from screen work?
Generally yes, if it stops you working and meets the policy definition. RSI, back problems and eye strain are recognised occupational issues for desk-based freelancers and are assessed like any other condition affecting your ability to work.
Can I insure income earned from overseas clients?
Usually yes, provided you are UK resident and taxed here. Where you are based matters more than where your clients are. If you spend substantial time working abroad, tell the insurer, as extended overseas periods can affect cover.
Should freelancers choose a short or long deferred period?
It depends entirely on your savings. With no sick pay, the honest calculation is how many weeks you could genuinely fund from savings and any partner income. That week is your deferred period — shorter costs more, longer leaves a gap you have already identified.
Does having a part-time employed role alongside freelancing help?
It can. Employed work usually brings some sick pay, which may allow a longer deferred period on the freelance portion and reduce the premium. We can usually build one policy across both income streams rather than arranging two.