Income protection for freelancers — cover that matches irregular earnings

Freelancers often buy the cheapest life cover and skip income protection because premiums feel high against a quiet month. Yet a broken wrist or a long recovery from illness hits a sole trader harder than a salaried employee with sick pay.

Insurers look at average earnings over a period, not your best invoice month. Keeping clean accounts and a clear occupation description shortens underwriting. Choosing a longer deferred period — say thirteen or twenty-six weeks — can bring premiums down if you hold an emergency cash buffer.

Own-occupation definitions matter. A policy that only pays when you cannot do “any work” is a weaker safety net for a specialist craftsperson or consultant. During a protection review we compare what you already hold through associations or former employers before recommending new cover.

This is not about collecting policies. It is about replacing enough income to keep the mortgage and essentials paid while you recover — and knowing exactly when the insurer starts paying.