Wage Protector
• Designed for manual and higher-risk jobs
• Cheaper than full Income Protection
• Pays if you can’t do your own job for up to 24 months
• After 2 years, it only continues if you cannot work in any job and meet Aviva’s disability test
• Premiums can increase
If you searched for wage protection, salary protection or income protection, you’re looking for cover that pays you if you’re too sick or injured to work.
Wage Protector is Aviva’s cheaper version of income protection. It’s designed for manual and higher-risk jobs.
It costs less because after two years it only keeps paying if you are severely limited and unable to work in any job.
For the first two years, it pays out if you are unable to do your own job.
First Things First
If you’re not in a manual or higher-risk job and you want to protect your income, take full Income Protection.
Wage Protector is for Class 3 and 4 occupations where full cover costs more.
How Wage Protector Works
Years 1–2: Own Occupation
After your waiting period, whether that’s 13 weeks or 26 weeks, it pays if you cannot do your own job because of illness or injury.
For example, say you’re a carpenter who can’t safely use tools because of a shoulder injury, or a nurse who cannot manage shifts because of a back problem, you are covered during this period.
The insurer will pay you a replacement income for up to 24 months.
From Year 3 Onwards
After two years, the definition changes.
From year three on, payments only continue if you cannot work in any job because of serious illness or injury and you pass Aviva’s functional disability test.
The test assesses basic physical and mental abilities, such as walking, dressing, lifting light objects, and concentrating.
Why It Is Used in Manual and Physical Jobs
Insurers group jobs into occupation classes based on claims history and risk.
If you are in a Class 3 or Class 4 occupation — builders, tradespeople, mechanics, general operatives, nurses and other physically demanding roles — full income protection costs more because the risk of a claim is higher.
Wage Protector lets people in manual and higher-risk jobs get covered for the first two years at a lower cost.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Wage Protector | Full Income Protection | |
|---|---|---|
| First 2 Years | Pays if you cannot do your own occupation | Pays if you cannot do your own occupation |
| After 2 Years | Only continues if you cannot work in any job and pass Aviva’s disability test | Continues if you cannot return to your own occupation |
| Premium Type | Reviewable only (can increase) | Guaranteed options available |
| Long-Term Protection | Stops after 24 months unless you are unable to work in any job | Can pay until retirement if you cannot return to your occupation |
What Does It Cost?
Let’s look at two examples.
Nurse
- 35 years old
- €2,000 per month cover
- 13-week waiting period
- Cover to age 65
Full Income Protection: €53 per month (after tax relief)
Wage Protector: €25 per month (after tax relief)
That’s a fair chunk of change.
Carpenter
- 40 years old
- €3,000 per month cover
- 13-week waiting period
- Cover to age 65
Full Income Protection: €76 per month (after tax relief)
Wage Protector: €41 per month (after tax relief)
Again, a big difference in premiums once you understand your cover is limited compared to full income protection.
Wage Protector premiums are reviewable, which means Aviva can increase the cost in future.
Read This Before You Apply
Only one insurer offers Wage Protector.
The real decision is not which insurer to use – the real decision is whether Wage Protector is the right policy for you.
If you qualify for full Income Protection, go for it even at a reduced level of cover or a longer deferred period.
It will pay out for as long as you are unable to do your job.
Wage Protector changes after two years. From year three, it only continues if you cannot work in any job and meet Aviva’s disability test.
Do not choose Wage Protector just because it is cheaper.
Not every insurer classifies occupations the same way. One insurer might treat you as Class 3 based on a basic job title. Another might classify you as Class 2 once your actual day-to-day duties are properly explained.
That can significantly change the price and be the difference between affording full Income Protection and being pushed into Wage Protector.
Get the occupation classification right first and then decide which structure makes sense.
Next Step
If you want clear advice on which option suits your job and health, complete the short income protection questionnaire, and we will review it properly.
Complete the Income Protection Questionnaire
Thanks for reading
Nick
Editor’s note: Updated in 2026 to reflect current Aviva Wage Protector terms and occupation classifications. If you’re unsure whether you qualify for full Income Protection instead, get advice before applying.
Written by Nick McGowan, QFA RPA APA
Nick is a qualified financial advisor and founder of Lion.ie, a multi agency Irish life insurance and income protection brokerage based in Tullamore.
He’s been helping people get fair, transparent cover for over 15 years and was named Protection Broker of the Year 2022.
If you would like straight answers without the sales pitch, learn more about Nick here.