Quick answer · Updated August 2026
Income protection quotes are driven by five inputs: age, occupation class (office vs manual), deferred period, benefit amount, and short-term vs full-term. A healthy 30-year-old office worker covering £2,000/month typically pays £18–35/month. The biggest lever: extending the deferred period from 4 to 13 weeks cuts most quotes by ~30%.
The Five Price Inputs
- Occupation class — office-based (class 1) is cheapest; manual trades (class 3–4) can pay 2–3× more, and some need specialist insurers like The Exeter.
- Deferred period — 4 weeks vs 13 weeks changes the quote ~30%; 26 weeks ~50%. Match it to your sick pay: our waiting periods guide.
- Benefit amount — up to 60–65% of gross earnings, tax-free when personally owned.
- Age — quotes rise ~35–55% between 30 and 40.
- Benefit period — full-term (to retirement) vs budget 1–2 year caps, which halve the price but cap the protection.
Typical Quotes (August 2026)
| Profile | Benefit | Typical quote |
|---|---|---|
| 30, office worker, 13-wk deferred | £2,000/mo to age 67 | £18–35/mo |
| 40, office worker, 13-wk deferred | £2,500/mo to age 67 | £30–55/mo |
| 38, self-employed trade, 4-wk deferred | £2,500/mo to age 67 | £45–80/mo |
Indicative panel pricing, August 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
A healthy 30-year-old office worker covering £2,000/month with a 13-week deferred period typically pays £18–35/month. Manual occupations and shorter deferred periods cost materially more.
Extend the deferred period to match your employer sick pay (the single biggest lever, ~30–50% off), cover essentials rather than maximum salary, and consider a budget 2-year benefit period if full-term is unaffordable — some cover beats none.
Initial quotes need only age, occupation and smoker status. Final pricing follows underwriting — mental health and musculoskeletal history are the most common reasons quotes get adjusted or exclusions added.