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Income Protection for HSE and Public-Sector Workers in Ireland (2026)

Last verified 28 Sept 2026· Published 28 Sept 2026

By the Job Vacancies Ireland editorial team · How we verify our guides

Primary source: Revenue — Jobs and Pensions

Quick answer: Income protection pays you a replacement income – usually up to 75% of your salary (less any State illness benefit) – if illness or injury stops you working long-term. Premiums qualify for tax relief at your marginal rate (20% or 40%). It matters for public servants because the Public Service Sick Leave Scheme only covers a limited period before pay drops sharply.

Public-sector sick pay is better than most, but it is not unlimited. If a serious illness or injury kept you out of work for a year or more, income protection is what bridges the gap. Here is how it works and why it is worth understanding.

Why public servants have a gap to cover

Under the Public Service Sick Leave Scheme you typically get a period on full pay, then a period on half pay, and after that a much lower Temporary Rehabilitation Remuneration – all within capped limits over a rolling period. For a short illness that is fine. For a long-term one, your income can fall steeply while your mortgage and bills do not. See our HSE sick leave policy guide for the detail.

How income protection works

  • You insure a percentage of your income – typically up to 75% of gross earnings, minus the State illness benefit.
  • There is a deferred period you choose (for example 13, 26 or 52 weeks) before the benefit starts – public servants often set this to line up with when their sick pay reduces.
  • The benefit is paid until you can return to work, or to retirement age, whichever comes first.
  • The monthly benefit you receive is taxable as income.

The tax relief

Income protection (a Revenue-approved Permanent Health Insurance policy) is the one type of personal insurance that gets income tax relief: premiums qualify for relief at your marginal rate (20% or 40%), on premiums up to 10% of your income. A €100 monthly premium effectively costs a higher-rate taxpayer about €60. PAYE staff claim it in Revenue myAccount under Permanent Health Insurance – see Revenue.

What it is not

Income protection is not the same as mortgage protection (which clears your mortgage on death), life cover, or a one-off specified-illness payout. It replaces ongoing income – the thing your salary actually does.

Before you decide

Check what income protection you may already have through a union, scheme or employer before buying your own, and compare cover through a regulated broker. Work out what you would actually need with our take-home pay calculator, and read what is a salary protection scheme.

This is general information, not financial advice. Talk to a regulated financial advisor or broker about your own circumstances, and confirm current tax rules with Revenue.

Frequently asked questions

Do public servants need income protection?
The Public Service Sick Leave Scheme pays full then half pay for a limited period, then a lower Temporary Rehabilitation Remuneration. For a long-term illness that is a real income gap, which is what income protection is designed to bridge. Check any cover you already have through a union or scheme first.
Is income protection tax-deductible in Ireland?
Yes. Premiums on a Revenue-approved Permanent Health Insurance (income protection) policy qualify for income tax relief at your marginal rate, 20% or 40%, on premiums up to 10% of your income. PAYE employees claim it in Revenue myAccount.
How much of my salary can I cover?
Typically up to 75% of your gross income, minus any State illness benefit you would receive. The monthly benefit you are paid is taxable as income.
Is income protection the same as mortgage protection?
No. Mortgage protection clears your mortgage if you die; life cover pays a lump sum on death; income protection replaces your ongoing income if illness or injury stops you working. They cover different risks.

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