4.3 million self-employed people left exposed by 'protection gap'

clock • 2 min read

More than 4 million self-employed people do not have a back-up plan for if they were unable to work, despite their families being disproportionately reliant on their income.

The research from Scottish Widows found that just 7% of self-employed people have critical illness cover to protect them if they were unable to work.  Just 7% of the self-employed population have critical illness cover, compared with 9% of the general population. With the self-employed population now rising to 4.79 million workers in the UK, or 15.1% of the workforce, this is the equivalent of 4.3 million workers having no protection in place if they were unable to work due to illness. Two thirds (62%) of self-employed workers' households are reliant on one wage earner's income, co...

To continue reading this article...

Join COVER for free

  • Unlimited access to real-time news, key trend analysis and industry insights.
  • Stay on top of the latest developments around health and wellbeing, diversity and inclusion and the cost of living crisis.
  • Receive breaking news stories straight to your inbox in the daily newsletter.
  • Members only access to monthly programme 'The COVER Review'
  • Be the first to hear about our CPD accredited events and awards programmes.

Join now

 

Already a Cover member?

Login

More on Income Protection

One in ten UK workers hold no savings: LV=

One in ten UK workers hold no savings: LV=

40% had no form of protection in place

Jaskeet Briah
clock 09 March 2026 • 2 min read
Profile of an IP Customer: Short- and long-term income protection

Profile of an IP Customer: Short- and long-term income protection

The time factor

Jo Miller and Warren O'Connell
clock 18 February 2026 • 3 min read
IPTF adds four members

IPTF adds four members

Swiss Re joins membership

Jaskeet Briah
clock 18 February 2026 • 1 min read