The Self-Employed Protection Gap
When you are employed and diagnosed with cancer, you typically receive:
- Employer sick pay (3–12 months)
- Possibly group income protection
- Death in service benefit
- Access to an Employee Assistance Programme
When you are self-employed, you receive none of this. Your income stops the day you stop working. Statutory Sick Pay is not available to most self-employed people. Universal Credit and ESA max out at around £90/week.
£90/week. That is the most the state will give you if you are self-employed and diagnosed with cancer. Could you pay your mortgage, bills, and family expenses on £90/week? CIC provides the financial buffer you need.
What Could a CIC Payout Do for You?
- £50,000: Clear a small mortgage or fund 1–2 years of basic living expenses
- £100,000: Clear a typical mortgage and provide a financial buffer
- £200,000: Clear the mortgage, replace income for 2–3 years, and fund private treatment
- £300,000+: Comprehensive cover including business continuity costs
CIC vs Income Protection
Both are important for the self-employed:
| CIC | Income Protection | |
|---|---|---|
| Payout | Lump sum | Monthly income |
| Trigger | Diagnosis of listed condition | Cannot work (any reason) |
| Covers back pain | No | Yes |
| Covers cancer | Yes | Yes |
| Best for | Mortgage, treatment, immediate costs | Ongoing living expenses |
How to Get Started
Getting CIC as a self-employed person is no different from an employed person. Your premiums are based on your age, health, and lifestyle – not your employment status. Compare quotes from multiple insurers to find the best price for your circumstances.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, arguably more so. No employer safety net makes CIC essential.
Minimum: mortgage clearance. Ideal: mortgage + 1–3 years income + treatment costs.