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🤰 Income Protection & Pregnancy

Income Protection and Pregnancy: Get Covered Before You Conceive

Most insurers will not start a new policy during pregnancy. Statutory Maternity Pay is only £184.03/week. If pregnancy complications stop you working, income protection pays up to 70% of your salary, but you need to arrange it before conceiving.

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Income Protection and Pregnancy: What You Need to Know

If you are planning a family, income protection is one of the most important financial decisions you can make, but timing is everything. Most UK insurers will not start a new income protection policy while you are pregnant, or will exclude all pregnancy-related conditions from the cover. This means the single most important thing you can do is arrange cover before you conceive.

Why does this matter? Because pregnancy complications are more common than most people realise. Approximately 1 in 5 pregnancies involve complications that can prevent you from working, including:

  • Gestational diabetes, can require bed rest and ongoing management, with potential long-term health implications.
  • Pre-eclampsia, a serious condition that often requires early delivery and extended recovery.
  • Hyperemesis gravidarum, severe morning sickness that can leave you unable to work for weeks or months.
  • Placenta praevia, may require prolonged bed rest and hospital admission.
  • Postnatal depression, can prevent return to work long after the birth.

If any of these conditions prevent you from working, Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) pays only £184.03 per week for 33 weeks, far less than most women's regular earnings. Income protection, arranged before pregnancy, can pay 50–70% of your gross salary for as long as you are unable to work.

Critical timing: If you are currently planning a pregnancy, now is the time to act. Once you are pregnant, your options are severely limited. Getting a policy in place before conception ensures full coverage with no pregnancy-related exclusions.

For a full explanation of how income protection works, see our comprehensive guide to income protection.

Income Comparison

Maternity Allowance vs SMP vs Income Protection

Understanding the difference between statutory benefits and income protection is essential for planning your finances around pregnancy.

FeatureMaternity AllowanceStatutory Maternity PayIncome Protection
Who qualifiesSelf-employed or employedEmployed women with 26+Anyone with an existing
Amount paid£184.03/wk or 90% of90% of earnings for 6 wks,50–70% of gross salary
DurationUp to 39 weeksUp to 39 weeksUntil you return to work or
Covers complicationsNo, covers planned leaveNo, covers planned leaveYes, if unable to work due
Covers postnatal depressionNoNoYes, after deferred period
Continues if complications extend absenceStops after 39 weeksStops after 39 weeksFor as long as you cannot
Available to self-employedYes (if NI contributionsNoYes

SMP and Maternity Allowance rates shown are for 2025/26 tax year. Income protection payout depends on your policy terms and salary.

Key insight: SMP and Maternity Allowance cover planned maternity leave only. They do not provide any additional support if pregnancy complications prevent you from working beyond your maternity period. Income protection fills this critical gap. Read our guide on pre-existing conditions for more detail.
Who Needs It?

Is This Right for Your Situation?

Income protection and pregnancy planning applies to a wide range of circumstances. Find your situation below.

📝

Planning Pregnancy & Want Cover First

This is the ideal time to arrange income protection. You are healthy, premiums are at their lowest, and your policy will have no pregnancy-related exclusions. If complications arise during any future pregnancy, you are fully protected.

Best time to arrange cover
🤰

Currently Pregnant & Want Future Cover

Most insurers will not cover pregnancy-related conditions for your current pregnancy. However, taking out a policy now can protect you against non-pregnancy illnesses and will cover pregnancy complications in future pregnancies once the policy is active.

Speak to an adviser about options
💼

Self-Employed with No Maternity Pay

Self-employed women may only qualify for Maternity Allowance (£184.03/week), and many receive nothing at all. If pregnancy complications prevent you from running your business, income protection provides the income your family needs to stay afloat.

Essential, no employer safety net
🏥

Women with Pregnancy Complications

If you already have income protection and develop complications like gestational diabetes, pre-eclampsia, or hyperemesis that prevent you from working, your policy pays out after the deferred period. This covers you beyond what SMP provides.

Check your existing policy terms
👩‍💻

Returning to Work After Complicated Pregnancy

If complications from pregnancy or birth delay your return to work beyond your planned maternity leave, SMP stops after 39 weeks. Income protection continues paying for as long as you are medically unable to work, providing ongoing financial security.

IP continues beyond SMP
🧑‍🍼

Single Mothers-to-Be

With no partner's income to rely on, the financial impact of pregnancy complications is magnified. SMP of £184.03/week will not cover your mortgage, bills, and baby costs. Income protection provides the financial security every single mother needs.

Critical, arrange before conceiving

Planning a family? Get income protection in place now.

An FCA-regulated adviser can help you find the right policy before you conceive, ensuring full coverage with no exclusions.

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Costs Explained

How Much Does Income Protection Cost?

The cost of income protection is based on your age, health, occupation, and income, not on whether you plan to have children. Getting cover while young and healthy locks in the lowest premiums.

£25–£40/mo
Before Pregnancy (No Exclusions)
Arranged while healthy with no pregnancy-related exclusions. Full coverage for complications, postnatal depression, and any illness or injury. Best value and broadest protection.
£184/wk
SMP Only (No Income Protection)
Without income protection, you rely on SMP of £184.03/week for 33 weeks. If complications extend your absence, you receive nothing. Most families cannot cover their mortgage on SMP alone.
Worth knowing: Once your income protection policy is in place, your premiums do not increase when you become pregnant. The policy remains unchanged regardless of any future pregnancies or complications. This is another powerful reason to arrange cover early. See our full guide to income protection costs.

Self-employed women should pay particular attention to income protection costs, as they may receive little or no maternity pay. The cost of a policy is typically far less than the income lost during even a short period of pregnancy-related absence from work.

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Real Reviews

What Our Customers Say

Emma C.
Emma C.
London • Income Protection
★★★★★
“So glad I arranged this before getting pregnant”

I took out income protection six months before we started trying. When I developed pre-eclampsia at 32 weeks and had to stop working immediately, my policy kicked in after the deferred period. It covered my mortgage while I recovered. I dread to think what would have happened without it.

Kate H.
Kate H.
Glasgow • Income Protection
★★★★★
“Essential for self-employed mums”

As a freelance designer, I had no maternity pay at all. My adviser helped me get income protection before I conceived. When severe morning sickness meant I could not work for three months, my policy covered my essential bills. Absolutely priceless.

Laura R.
Laura R.
Cardiff • Income Protection
★★★★★
“Wish I had known about this sooner”

I tried to get income protection when I was already 12 weeks pregnant. Every insurer either declined or excluded pregnancy conditions. I eventually got cover for non-pregnancy issues, but learned my lesson, I arranged full cover before my second pregnancy. Do not wait.

Sophie W.
Sophie W.
Manchester • Income Protection
★★★★★
“Covered my maternity income gap”

Statutory maternity pay barely covered half my mortgage. I set up income protection before conceiving, and when hyperemesis kept me off work for 10 weeks before my leave even started, my policy paid £1,600/month. It was the only thing keeping us afloat financially.

Gemma T.
Gemma T.
Bristol • Income Protection
★★★★★
“Postnatal depression claim handled brilliantly”

After my daughter was born I developed severe postnatal depression and could not return to work for five months. Because I had taken out income protection before my pregnancy, the claim was straightforward. They paid £1,400/month and the support team were incredibly understanding.

Natalie G.
Natalie G.
Leeds • Income Protection
★★★★★
“Set up cover before IVF, so glad I did”

My adviser recommended getting income protection in place before starting IVF. After a complicated pregnancy with bed rest from week 28, my policy kicked in and covered £1,900/month. Without it, we would have burned through our entire savings. Planning ahead made all the difference.

Learn More

Related Guides

Dive deeper into the topics that matter for protecting your income around pregnancy.

What Is Income Protection?

Complete UK guide

Pre-Existing Conditions

Your options explained

Income Protection for Self-Employed

Cover without employer benefits

Income Protection Waiting Periods

Choosing the right deferred period

Income Protection Cost

UK pricing breakdown

Income Protection vs Critical Illness

Which cover do you need?
Got Questions?

Income Protection and Pregnancy: Frequently Asked Questions

Most UK insurers will not start a new income protection policy during pregnancy, or will exclude all pregnancy-related conditions from the policy. Some insurers may offer cover after the first trimester with restrictions. The key message is that if you are planning a family, you should arrange income protection before you conceive to ensure full coverage for any pregnancy-related complications.
If you already have an income protection policy in place before becoming pregnant, most policies will cover pregnancy complications such as gestational diabetes, pre-eclampsia, hyperemesis gravidarum, or complications requiring extended bed rest, after the deferred period has passed. The policy will not cover normal maternity leave, only situations where you are medically unable to work.
Getting income protection before pregnancy ensures you have full coverage with no pregnancy-related exclusions. Once you are pregnant, insurers either refuse cover entirely or exclude pregnancy-related conditions. Since pregnancy complications affect approximately 1 in 5 pregnancies, having cover already in place provides crucial financial protection if complications prevent you from working.
Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) pays 90% of your average weekly earnings for 6 weeks, then £184.03 per week for the remaining 33 weeks. Income protection is entirely different, it pays 50–70% of your salary if you are unable to work due to illness or injury, including pregnancy complications. SMP is for planned maternity leave; income protection is for when you are medically unable to work.
No, income protection does not cover voluntary maternity leave. It only pays out when you are unable to work due to illness or injury. However, if pregnancy complications mean you cannot work before your planned maternity leave starts, or if complications extend beyond your planned return date, your income protection policy may cover you after the deferred period. See our guide to income protection for full details.
If you have a policy in place before pregnancy, income protection typically covers complications that prevent you from working, including gestational diabetes, pre-eclampsia, placenta praevia, hyperemesis gravidarum, complications requiring bed rest, postnatal depression, and post-birth complications such as infections or surgical recovery. Each insurer's definition may vary, so check your policy wording.
Self-employed women are particularly vulnerable during pregnancy because they may only qualify for Maternity Allowance (£184.03 per week or 90% of average earnings, whichever is lower) rather than SMP. Many self-employed women receive no maternity pay at all. Income protection arranged before pregnancy provides a vital safety net if complications prevent you from running your business. See our guide for self-employed workers.
No. Once your income protection policy is in place, your premiums are fixed (or increase only with inflation if you have chosen an index-linked policy). Becoming pregnant does not increase your premiums. This is another reason to arrange cover before conceiving, your existing policy remains unchanged regardless of any pregnancies.
Yes, if you have an existing income protection policy and postnatal depression prevents you from working, you can make a claim after the deferred period. Mental health conditions including postnatal depression are covered by most income protection policies, provided your policy was in place before the condition developed and you did not have a pre-existing mental health exclusion.
If you are already pregnant, most insurers will either decline your application or offer a policy that excludes all pregnancy-related conditions for your current pregnancy. However, it may still be worth applying for cover to protect you against non-pregnancy-related illnesses and to have a policy in place for future pregnancies. Speak to an adviser to explore your options.
The deferred period for pregnancy-related claims is the same as for any other claim on your policy, typically 4 weeks, 8 weeks, 13 weeks, 26 weeks, or 52 weeks depending on what you chose when setting up the policy. For pregnancy-related claims, a shorter deferred period is generally better as complications can arise suddenly. Read our guide to waiting periods.
Maternity Allowance pays £184.03 per week (or 90% of your average weekly earnings if lower) for up to 39 weeks. For many women, particularly those with mortgages, this is not enough to cover essential outgoings. If pregnancy complications extend your time off work beyond the maternity allowance period, you would have no income at all without income protection.
Some employers offer enhanced sick pay that may cover pregnancy-related absences before maternity leave begins. However, employer sick pay is typically limited to a fixed number of weeks, and once maternity leave starts, sick pay usually stops. If complications extend beyond your employer's sick pay provision or beyond your planned maternity leave, income protection provides ongoing financial support.
Yes, arranging income protection before starting IVF treatment is strongly advised. Some insurers may ask about fertility treatment during the application and could apply exclusions. Getting cover in place before beginning any fertility treatment ensures the broadest possible protection. IVF can also involve complications and recovery time that might prevent you from working.
The cost of income protection for women is based on age, health, occupation, and income, not on whether you plan to have children. A healthy 30-year-old woman in an office role earning £35,000 can expect to pay from around £25–40 per month. The key is to arrange cover while you are healthy and before pregnancy, as this ensures the lowest premiums with no exclusions. See our guide to income protection costs.

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