Unable to work through illness? Help with bills and income
If illness or injury prevents you working, start by checking your sick pay, existing insurance and eligibility for benefits. Contact organisations you owe money to before payments are missed, and work out what you need to cover essential household costs.
This guide explains how to assess your options, whether you are employed, self-employed or working through a platform.
Information checked on 7 October 2026.
Find out what your employer will pay
Ask your employer or payroll team to confirm your sick pay arrangements in writing. Check your contract, staff handbook and benefits information.
You need to know:
- Whether you qualify for Statutory Sick Pay.
- Whether your employer offers additional company sick pay.
- When payments reduce or stop.
- Whether you have workplace income protection or other insurance.
- What evidence and absence notifications you must provide.
Eligible employees can receive Statutory Sick Pay for up to 28 weeks. Company schemes may pay more. Check the current GOV.UK sick pay guidance for entitlement and payment details.
Our guide to understanding your contract of employment can help you identify the documents and terms to review.
Calculate the shortfall in your household budget
List essential monthly spending, including housing, energy, food, childcare and travel. Then compare it with the income you expect during your absence.
Keep confirmed payments separate from benefits or insurance claims still awaiting a decision.
Example: if essential spending is £1,600 a month and reliable household income falls to £1,150, the shortfall is £450. Savings of £900 would cover approximately two months of that gap, assuming costs remain unchanged.
This calculation helps you identify how urgently you need additional support. It also gives lenders and advisers a clearer picture of your circumstances.
Check insurance you already have
Search your policy documents, bank payments and workplace benefits before assuming you have no cover.
| Type of cover | What it generally provides |
| Income protection | Regular payments replacing part of your earnings when qualifying illness or injury prevents work |
| Critical illness cover | A lump sum following a diagnosis that meets the policy’s specified conditions |
| Life insurance | Financial support following the insured person’s death, subject to the policy terms |
These products serve different purposes. Life insurance generally does not replace wages during sickness. Workplace death-in-service benefits may also end when you leave that employer. See MoneyHelper’s explanation of life insurance.
For income protection, check the waiting period, payment duration, exclusions and definition of inability to work. Contact the insurer promptly to ask about claim requirements. MoneyHelper’s income protection guide explains these conditions.
Explore benefits if earnings fall
Not having insurance does not automatically mean no financial help is available.
Depending on your circumstances, you may qualify for Universal Credit, which can help with living costs when you have a low income or cannot work. Entitlement depends on your household circumstances.
You may also qualify for New Style Employment and Support Allowance if a health condition affects your ability to work and you meet the relevant conditions, including National Insurance requirements. You cannot receive it while receiving Statutory Sick Pay, although you can apply before sick pay ends.
For self-employed people, checking benefits is particularly important because there is no employer providing sick pay. Our information for self-employed workers covers related workplace concerns.
Ask for help before bills become overdue
Contact your landlord, mortgage lender, energy provider or other creditors if you expect difficulty paying. Explain the change in income and ask what assistance is available.
Keep a record of conversations and request written confirmation of any arrangement. Do not assume a payment has been postponed until this is agreed.
MoneyHelper provides free, impartial guidance and routes to debt support.
Planning protection for the future
Before buying insurance, consider existing benefits, savings, dependants and the premium you could sustain.
Ask a specialist broker or financial adviser to explain options where your work, health or income makes comparison difficult. Answer application questions accurately, and check how fluctuating earnings affect any potential payout.
If an existing policy becomes unaffordable, speak to the insurer before cancelling. Replacement cover may cost more or have different exclusions.
Frequently asked questions
Potentially. Check sick pay, benefits and household support first. Insurance is only one possible source of financial assistance.
Yes. Rent continues during sickness, so the relevant question is whether your available income and savings would cover it.
Yes, subject to an insurer’s criteria. Ask how your occupation and earnings will be assessed and what evidence a claim requires.
Do not assume so. Existing conditions may affect acceptance, price or exclusions. Obtain a clear explanation of the proposed terms.
Members can contact The Workers Union through their member dashboard about workplace issues, including concerns about employer communication or sick pay arrangements. For choosing insurance, seek appropriately authorised financial advice.
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