Most employees in Ireland only get a handful of paid sick days. After that, you’re typically relying on state illness benefit of around €1,000 per month. For anyone with bills, that’s a big drop in income. Income protection is designed to replace that lost income if you can’t work.
Income Protection Calculator
Sarah is 33 and works as an accountant in a firm in the city centre.
She’s mostly on time – though last week she was late because her cat vomited on the floor.
Sarah suspects that Jim, the cat in question, took one look at the hardwood flooring in the hallway and thought,
Nah, the carpet is a way better shout.
Little fecker.
Sarah’s a great employee; she’s even started contributing to her employer’s pension scheme.
But then Sarah gets sick.
She’s out of work for a week because of cramps.
The company she works for are decent and pay her ten sick days a year.
Sarah’s not worried.
But then the cramps don’t go away, and she finds out she’s got stomach cancer.
Those ten paid sick days are all the company offers.
So, what happens next?
And what if something like that were to happen to you?
How Much Sick Pay Do You Get in Ireland?
Stories like Sarah’s happen all the time.
Life happens – and sometimes it happens hard.
Most of us don’t consider insuring our salary in the event of illness.
Because here’s the reality: an employee in Ireland is legally entitled to just five days of sick pay per year (and that’s only since January 2024).
Your company doesn’t owe you anything beyond that.
Anything more generous is down to your employer.
Some offer good cover. Most don’t.
So it’s worth checking your contract now, not when you’re already sick.
What Happens When Sick Pay Runs Out?
This is where the problem starts.
Once your employer stops paying you, you’re usually relying on state supports.
The main one is Illness Benefit, which is currently around €244 per week or roughly €1,057 per month.
That might keep the lights on.
It won’t maintain your lifestyle.
Could You Live on €1,057 a Month?
I couldn’t.
And that’s before factoring in a mortgage, kids, or normal living costs.
That’s the gap most people don’t think about.
And crucially, it’s a gap you can’t fix once you’re already sick.
Your Options If You Can’t Work
If you’re out of work long term, your options are limited:
- State illness benefit
- Employer sick pay (if available)
- Savings
None of these properly replace your income.
The Bit Most People Miss
You can’t take out income protection once you’re already sick.
Insurers assess your health at the time you apply.
If something has already happened, your options are reduced or gone completely.
The timing matters.
How Income Protection Fixes This
Income protection can replace up to 75% of your income if you can’t work due to illness or injury.
It pays you a regular income until you return to work or reach the end of your policy.
That means you can focus on getting better, not worrying about money.
What Does It Cost?
For example, a 26-year-old earning €45,000 might pay:
- €36/month (4-week deferral)
- €17/month (13-week deferral)
- €11/month (52-week deferral)
Longer deferral periods are cheaper, but you need to be able to survive until the policy kicks in.
The Hard Truth
If you’re young and have no responsibilities, you might get away without it.
But if you’ve got a mortgage, kids, or anyone depending on you, state illness benefit won’t cut it.
You’ll feel bad enough without financial stress on top.
Over to You
If your sick pay is limited, and you’d struggle to live on state benefits, it’s worth looking at your options now.
You can complete this short questionnaire and I’ll run through the best options for your situation.
Or if you prefer, you can book a call here: https://info.lion.ie/meetings/nick352
Editor’s note: First published 2019. Updated 2026 with current Irish sick pay and income protection details.