Income Protection
A regular, replacement income if illness or injury stops you from working — so bills keep getting paid.
What income protection actually covers
Income protection replaces a portion of your regular income — typically up to 75% — if you're unable to work due to illness or injury not covered by ACC. It's designed to keep your household running: the mortgage, groceries, and bills, for as long as you're unable to earn.
Who it's for
- Your income is your family's main financial engine
- You're self-employed with no employer sick leave to fall back on
- You want cover for illness, not just accidents (which ACC already covers)
- You want your standard of living protected, not just survival costs
What it covers
- A monthly benefit, typically up to 75% of your pre-disability income
- A choice of waiting period (how long before payments start) to manage premiums
- A choice of benefit period (how long payments continue) up to a set age
- 'Own occupation' vs 'any occupation' definitions, explained and matched to your role
Common scenarios
A self-employed electrician can't climb ladders for eight months after a back injury. Income protection replaces most of his usual earnings during recovery.
An office worker develops a chronic condition and reduces to part-time hours; a partial-disability benefit tops up the income she's lost.
Frequently asked
'Own occupation' pays out if you can't do your specific job, even if you could do another; 'any occupation' is stricter, requiring you to be unable to work in any role suited to your training. We explain which definition your policy uses.
No — ACC only covers accidental injury. Income protection also covers illness, which is a common cause of long-term time off work.
You can choose shorter benefit periods (e.g. 2 years) for lower premiums, or cover through to a retirement age for maximum protection — we'll model both against your budget.
Ready to talk about income protection?
Book a free consultation and we'll walk through your options — no pressure, no jargon.
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