A home is more than bricks and mortar - it’s your family’s base. Protection cover helps make sure your loved ones could stay in your home and keep life moving forward if the unexpected happens.
Whether you’re buying, moving, remortgaging, or growing your family, we’ll help you choose protection that fits your life and your budget.
In simple terms, protection can help:
- Pay off or support your mortgage if you die (life insurance / life assurance)
- Provide a lump sum if you’re diagnosed with a serious illness (critical illness cover)
- Replace part of your income if you can’t work due to illness or injury (income protection)
- Cover mortgage payments for a short time if you’re off work due to accident or sickness (accident & sickness / mortgage payment-style cover, product features vary by provider)
Why families choose protection
No one likes to think about worst-case scenarios - but planning ahead can be one of the most caring things you do.
- A parent of children under 18 dies every 20 minutes in the UK - protection can help reduce financial stress at an already devastating time. Source
- If you’re off work ill, Statutory Sick Pay may not cover your outgoings and rules are changing in April 2026, so it’s worth reviewing what you could rely on. Source
- People do claim: UK insurers paid £5.32bn across individual life, income protection and critical illness claims during 2024 (ABI). Source
What this means: protection is about keeping choices open - staying in your home, paying bills, and focusing on your family.
The types of cover we’ll help you consider
Life Insurance (Life Assurance)
Designed to help financially protect your loved ones if you die during the policy term.
It can be used to help:
- repay the mortgage (or reduce the balance)
- cover household bills and childcare
- provide a financial cushion for your family
Common options we’ll explain:
- Level term cover (payout stays the same)
- Decreasing term cover (often used alongside a repayment mortgage)
- Family income benefit (can pay a regular income instead of a lump sum)
Talk to us about life insurance options
Critical Illness Cover
Critical illness cover can pay a tax-free lump sum if you’re diagnosed with a specified serious illness (as defined by the policy). It can help take pressure off when your focus needs to be on treatment and recovery.
Families often use a payout for:
- mortgage payments and household bills
- childcare, travel to hospital, time off work
- adapting the home if needed
Important: what’s covered depends on the insurer and the policy definitions - we’ll talk you through what to look for.
Income Protection
Income protection is designed to pay a regular monthly amount if you can’t work due to illness or injury, helping to replace part of your earnings until you return to work (or the policy ends).
This can be especially relevant if:
- you’re self-employed, freelance, or rely on commission
- your employer sick pay is limited
- your household depends heavily on one income
We’ll help you choose:
- waiting period (how soon payments start)
- benefit amount and length
- the right definition of incapacity for your job
Accident & Sickness Cover
Some families want a more short-term safety net to help with bills or mortgage payments if you’re unable to work due to accident or sickness. Product names and features vary, so we’ll explain what’s available and what it’s designed to do.
Support services
Many insurers now include extra support services that can be genuinely useful day-to-day (availability varies by provider/policy). For example, some providers offer access to remote GP services, nurse helplines, counselling or wellbeing support.
Tip: If you already have a policy, we can help you check what’s included - many people don’t realise they can use these services.
Protection advice, built around your family
When you speak with a Just Mortgages adviser, we’ll:
- Understand your family setup, budget and priorities
- Explain what each type of cover does (and what it doesn’t do)
- Recommend options to match your needs — not a one-size-fits-all policy
- Help with paperwork and next steps
Frequently asked questions
Do I need protection to get a mortgage?
It’s not usually a legal requirement, but many families choose it to help protect their home and lifestyle if something unexpected happens.
What’s the difference between critical illness and income protection?
Critical illness typically pays a lump sum for specified conditions, while income protection can pay a monthly benefit if you’re unable to work due to illness or injury.
Can I have life insurance and income protection together?
Yes - they protect against different risks (death vs being unable to work).
How much cover should I get?
A common starting point is your mortgage balance plus the amount your family would need to cover bills, childcare and everyday living. We’ll help you model this.
What can affect the cost?
Age, health, smoking status, occupation, cover amount, policy term and any optional extras.
What if I already have cover?
We can review it to check it still matches your family’s needs (new baby, house move, income change, etc.).