At British Friendly, we believe income protection is the most valuable protection insurance because it protects your client’s earnings when they’re unable to do their job. This means that they can still look after themselves, their family, their future plans and their lifestyle. Despite this, the reality is that only around 1 in 10 people have income protection insurance in place to cover them if they face prolonged absence from work.* It’s also worth noting that around 58% of people would only receive 3 months or less in employer sick pay.** And the self-employed don’t have any employer sick pay to fall back on.

Critical illness versus income protection?

According to the Office of National Statistics, two of the top reasons for sickness absences in 2016 were musculoskeletal problems and stress.*** These also make up a large proportion of income protection claims but neither is specifically covered under critical illness insurance. When it comes to choosing the right protection insurance for your clients, income protection should be at the top of the list.

How can British Friendly help?

We specialise in income protection cover and have done for 115 years. As a friendly society our number one priority is to be there for our members in times of need. This is evidenced by the fact that we have paid over 96% of our claims over the last decade. We also provide all new and existing members with access to Mutual Benefits^ at no extra cost. Mutual Benefits provides them with access to a range of benefits including healthcare services, high street discounts and bespoke offers that they can use every day whether they’re claiming or not. This means that they can get more value out of their policy with us. When considering recommending us to your clients, some of the reasons we stand out from our competitors include:

• We provide cover up to 70% of your clients’ income up to a maximum retirement age of 70;
• We provide flexible cover for the self-employed as well as occupations classes 3 and 4;
• We’re one of the top paying income protection providers in the industry when it comes to paying claims and we don’t limit the number of claims that can be made on a policy;
• You can tailor cover to your clients’ needs and budget with our range of deferred and benefit period options.

So, when you’re next having a conversation with your clients about the need for protection insurance, remember British Friendly. We are here to help you protect your clients, their families and their lifestyle with income protection that goes a little bit further.