Why do painters and decorators need income protection?
Painters and decorators often work at height and perform repetitive physical tasks. An injury or illness that prevents you from working could have an immediate financial impact. Income protection provides monthly payments of up to 70% of your income until you're back on your feet.
How does income protection work for painters and decorators?
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 painters and decorators?
Premiums depend on your age, health, smoking status, occupation class, deferred period, and benefit amount. Decorating work is usually Occupation Class 2 or 3 — more favourable than heavy trades, but still higher than office-based roles. A healthy 35-year-old painter and decorator 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. Decorating work is usually Occupation Class 2 or 3 — more favourable than heavy trades, but still higher than office-based roles.
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.