Losing an income is more than an inconvenience – it can sometimes be life-altering. Yet many of us assume it won’t happen or believe we’d find a way to manage. We reassure ourselves with thoughts of financial security, sick pay, or savings to fall back on.  

But would that really be enough?  

The truth is, injury and illness can strike at any time. For vets, the risk is even higher than in most professions. In the UK, vets experience some of the highest rates of non-fatal occupational injuries and illnesses, with bites, kicks, trampling, and crushing accidents being everyday hazards.  

This article shares the real-life experiences of PG Mutual members who, like many, never thought it would happen to them. But when the unexpected hit, their Income Protection plan became their financial lifeline.  

(Names and places have been changed for confidentiality.)  

Two years unable to work.  

In 2017, Dave was treating a sick horse when a stable wall collapsed on him. His injuries were extensive. Suddenly, the career he had built over years of dedication was put on hold – for two years.  

Thanks to his Income Protection Plus Plan, Dave was spared financial stresses. His plan allowed him to maintain his lifestyle, and focus fully on recovery, instead of worrying about his bills.    

PG Mutual didn’t just send payments – they also helped him regain his independence through a specialist rehabilitation programme, provided at no extra cost. Today, Dave is back in veterinary practice, doing the work he loves.  

How do you prepare for something like that?  

Bijal had his whole life ahead of him – a young doctor, in his mid-thirties, expecting a child with his wife. Then, without warning, he was diagnosed with a progressive neurological disorder, one that slowly eroded his ability to work.  

At first, his employer covered part of his pay. The NHS contributed for a time. But as the months passed, the payments stopped.  

Without his Income Protection Plus plan, Bijal would have faced a terrifying financial reality with no income. Thankfully, his policy provided £3,998.80 per month, a lifeline that will continue until he reaches 65.  

“A few days off work shouldn’t be a crisis—but it can be.”  

For Anna, a locum vet, a short illness nearly meant serious financial trouble. After contracting gastroenteritis, she was forced to take just a few days off work. But because she was self-employed, those few days meant lost income.  

For most people, sick days are covered. But for Anna, they weren’t.  

Without Income Protection Plus, she would have had no choice but to dip into her savings just to stay afloat that month. Thankfully, she didn’t have to and had opted for a short deferment period. Her policy meant she could take the time she needed to recover properly, without worrying about how she’d pay her bills.  

“I never thought I’d need it—but then everything changed.”  

For many equine vets, income protection feels like an optional safeguard – something useful, but rarely needed.  

But Becky Price and Steph Gillespie, both BEVA member equine vets, never imagined injury would take them out of work. Their experiences proved why income protection isn’t just helpful – it’s essential.  

The below excerpts are taken from an audio recording of an interview with the both of them.    

Steph’s story  

Steph first heard about income protection as a student. She vividly remembers a vet with a wrist injury, struggling not just with the physical pain but with her employer over sick pay.  

Steph remembers being told ‘No matter what, make sure you have income protection.’ and took her advice, “and sure enough, since graduating four years ago I have been a loyal BEVA member and PG Mutual customer but never expected to need it.” 

Then, in April, the worst happened.  

“A perfect storm brewed. I injured my back at work, took time off for a holiday, then returned to foot abscess season – hours of bending over treating horses. The final blow was a kick to my back from a youngster.  

My back just went – and that was it.”  

Steph’s practice offered four weeks of full sick pay, then statutory sick pay – which meant just £116.75 a week. But her rent alone was £1,000 a month.  

“Without income protection, I’d have been in real financial trouble.”  

The claim process was simple, and within a week, her first payment arrived. But the real relief wasn’t just financial – it was emotional.  

“My injury coincided with my partner leaving for a six-week army exercise abroad. Suddenly, I wasn’t going out treating horses, I was trapped at home, barely able to move.”  

I thought I’d be back in 12 weeks—but then I needed three surgeries.  

Becky’s story began on a bank holiday Monday in 2023, with a riding accident.  

“It was completely uneventful – just a simple fall. But somehow, I ended up with a nasty fracture-dislocation in my ankle.”  

She assumed she’d recover quickly. “I thought I’d be back in 12 weeks – but then I needed three surgeries. That changed everything.”  

Her work as an equine vet was physically demanding, and suddenly, she couldn’t do her job the way she had before.  

“I was used to being independent, earning my own living. To go from that to being stuck and unable to work was really difficult. Thankfully, I had taken out income protection early in my career.”  

Becky’s claims were processed quickly and every time she needed additional support, PG Mutual stepped in.  

“I was offered rehab – physically and mentally. Recovering from an injury isn’t just about healing your body – it affects your mindset, too.”  

We work hard, we feel invincible – but income protection keeps us safe.  

Both Becky and Steph were young, passionate vets. Neither expected injury or illness to disrupt their lives. But when it did, PG Mutual’s income protection plan, pay you a monthly income of up to 70% of your pre-tax income, kept them financially secure, helping them recover properly – without the stress of lost income.   

For vets, this isn’t a luxury it’s a necessity. Sick pay runs out fast. Statutory pay doesn’t even cover basic expenses. Without income protection, vets can face financial disaster rapidly.  

Vets work in one of the most injury-prone professions – but that doesn’t mean financial hardship has to follow. With Income Protection Plus, you can safeguard your future and gain peace of mind.