An income worth protecting

An accident or serious illness, stress or burnout... there are many reasons for not being able to work for a while. According to the 2025 census nearly 190,000 Irish residents were unable to work due to permanent sickness or disability₁. And unfortunately, many people who fall ill can no longer pay their regular household costs and experience financial difficulties.

In this blog article we take a deep dive into income protection explaining what it is and its benefits. We’ll also explore income protection from Zurich and explain how easy it is to get a quote from us using our income protection quote tool.

What is income protection?

We understand that income protection isn’t something people want to think about. It’s only natural to want to shy away from thinking of scenarios in which you get sick or disabled. 

What you might not realise is that you are more likely to need to claim off an income protection policy than any other term policy. It’s there not only to protect the big things, but to make sure you can continue to enjoy the lifestyle you are used to.

Many of us are aware of the risk to our salary through redundancy. But most people who lose their job through redundancy reset and find something new – so perhaps their finances are only thrown off kilter for a short-period.

But what happens in scenarios where you get sick or disabled? This can have far more wide-reaching consequences – an illness might not be short-term and could have the effect of putting your entire financial future in jeopardy.

That’s why we believe that income protection is so important. It’s an insurance policy for your finances and it protects your financial future should you be unable to work due to illness or disability. The money you earn through your salary funds everything, from your daily household expenditure, right through to your lifestyle and plans for the future, so doesn't it make sense to protect it?

Why is income protection important for the self-employed and freelance workers?

Close to 352,000 Irish workers are self-employed₂. This group is extremely diverse and can be found in every corner of the economy. Self-employed workers work in construction, in healthcare, practice law, run pubs, and local shops. The number of freelancers has been growing steadily and has become a significant force in the Irish economy.

Lifelong employees are no longer the norm. Whereas many highly skilled workers used to have the security of a permanent contract, fixed-term contracts or even ‘gigs’ are on the rise as new generations of workers enter the workforce. Increasingly, generations such as millennials are considering self-employment as their future. Now that Zoomers (also known as Generation Z) are entering the workforce the landscape is due to change again. Zoomers are digital natives that learnt to work from home at a young age given the experience that Covid had on them while they were still in school.

Zurich’s income protection

As mentioned, income protection is a type of life insurance policy that pays you money each month if you are unable to work due to illness or injury. This payment continues until you are fit enough to return to work again.

Zurich, a leading provider of protection in Ireland³ offers competitive and flexible income protection. We have two plans depending on whether you are taking out the plan, or your employer is taking it out for you.

With cover from as little as €10.10 per month⁴ we offer comprehensive and competitive cover, plus it’s easy to apply with quick on-risk decisions.

The premium you pay depends on various factors, such as your level of cover, your age, your smoking status, your health, and your occupation. If you would like to learn more about the price of income protection, visit our income protection quote calculator.

Supporting you and your family

Income protection from Zurich supports you, so you can keep supporting yourself and your family. No two people are the same, nor are their protection needs. That’s why Zurich provides you with several options to build a policy around your needs. If you’re unsure what your needs are find we have lots of information on cover and options. 

Zurich is committed to doing the best we can for our customers. So, if you’d like to take the next step, get in touch today to discuss your income protection needs. 

Get a quote Get financial advice

Sources:

₁Central Statistics Office, Survey on Income and Living Conditions (SILC) 2025

₂Central Statistics Office, 2024

³Best Mortgage Protection Provider, National Consumer Awards 2025.

⁴€10.10 is our minimum premium inclusive of the government insurance levy currently 1% as at 1st January 2026 and may change in the future.