Why should teachers protect their income?

From your car to your home and everything in between, as a teacher you’ve worked hard to build a life you’re proud of. But if you were unable to do the job you love, how would you continue to fund your lifestyle?

Teachers are often entitled to up to six months of full pay, followed by a further six months at half pay once they have completed four years of service. However, it’s important to check your individual employment contract to confirm exactly what you would be entitled to, particularly if you haven’t yet reached this level of service.

Working in education, it’s easy to assume that this built-in support will be enough to see you through a difficult period. In reality, many people don’t fully understand what their financial safety net looks like until they actually need to rely on it.

The crucial question to consider is, if you were to become seriously ill, how long might you be unable to work?

Recovery timelines can vary significantly. You may require treatment that extends beyond your sick pay entitlement, along with additional time to recover before you are ready to return to the classroom. Without additional safeguards in place, this could leave you facing a period with little or no income before you are fit to return to work.

Fortunately, there are ways to protect your income to ensure you can still afford the necessities for you and your family.

Why should you consider protecting your income?

Data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) in 2025 suggests that employees in the public sector have some of the highest sickness rates in the UK.

Although the ONS doesn’t provide specific examples of what employees are typically unwell with, they do cite mental ill health as one of the biggest reasons for being off sick from work, alongside other health conditions.

According to data from an income protection provider on the Wesleyan Financial Services panel, in 2024, the average length of claim was five years and eight months.

So, when it comes to protecting your income, you need to consider what you would do if you had an illness that lasted beyond 12 months. You also need to think about if you could maintain your lifestyle on half pay, as this drop could curb your ability to keep up with household costs. If there’s a chance it couldn’t, income protection could close that gap for you.

How can knowing you’re protected improve your financial wellbeing?

Financial wellbeing isn’t just about having money in the bank, it’s about feeling secure, prepared and confident that life’s unexpected events won’t derail everything you’ve worked for.

• Knowing you have a financial buffer in place can help you to:
• Maintain stability for you and your family during periods of uncertainty
• Avoid high interest borrowing or dipping into long-term savings
• Focus on recovery rather than financial worry
• Protect the lifestyle you’ve built, even when your income is disrupted

So having a fallback in place that protects you and your family if the worst happens can help to make a big difference to your financial wellbeing. It eases the stress of not knowing how you’ll cover essential costs and helps you maintain stability while you focus on getting better.

How can you get the right income protection in place?

When it comes to income protection, there is no one size fits all solution. The key is to build a protection plan that reflects your responsibilities, your lifestyle and the people who rely on you. That’s why seeking expert advice can make all the difference. A tailored plan ensures you’re not over or underinsured, and that your finances are supported if the unexpected happens.

Wesleyan Financial Services’ team of Specialist Financial Advisers for educators can help you to put a plan in place. They understand the unique pressures and benefits of working in the education sector and can guide you through the options to best protect your income, your commitments and your family.

Book an appointment with one of our advisers to put the right cover in place and protect your financial future.

Wesleyan Financial Services Limited is a broker and insurance products are provided by a number of selected insurers.