Why do midwives need income protection?
NHS midwives receive employer sick pay for a period, but private midwives and agency workers may have no safety net. Income protection pays monthly if illness or injury prevents you from working — especially important given the physical demands of the role and the risk of musculoskeletal injury.
How does income protection work for midwives?
Income protection pays a monthly benefit — typically 50–70% of your gross income — if you're unable to work due to illness or injury. Payments continue until you return to work, reach the end of the policy term, or the policy expires at retirement age.
How much does income protection cost for midwives?
Premiums depend on your age, health, smoking status, occupation class, deferred period, and benefit amount. Midwifery is usually Occupation Class 1 or 2 for income protection, meaning competitive premiums. A healthy 35-year-old midwife looking for £1,500/month benefit typically pays £25–£55/month, depending on the deferred period chosen.
What is a deferred period?
The deferred period is how long you wait before payments begin — typically 4, 8, 13, 26, or 52 weeks. Longer deferred periods mean lower premiums. Choose a deferred period that aligns with how long your savings or employer sick pay would last.
Own occupation vs any occupation cover
Always aim for "own occupation" cover — this pays out if you cannot perform your specific job, not just any job. "Any occupation" policies are much harder to claim on and are generally not recommended.
Frequently Asked Questions
Occupation class is a key pricing factor for IP — unlike life insurance. Midwifery is usually Occupation Class 1 or 2 for income protection, meaning competitive premiums.
Long-term policies pay until you return to work, retire, or die. Short-term policies (typically 1–2 years) are cheaper but provide less protection.
Yes — in fact, income protection is especially important if you're self-employed, as you have no employer sick pay to fall back on.