When Jo had an accident, everything changed. Months away from her job meant no income to rely on. With Income Protection Plus in place, she had the financial security to keep going, and our support made all the difference.

My name’s Jo. I’ve been in veterinary practice for 33 years. So, I work for a small animal first opinion veterinary practice. We’re very, very busy, standing on your feet all day. Equally, I don’t enjoy sitting down all day. That’s no good for you either. So it’s about having a balance.

Originally took out the income protection about 10 years ago across Mutual at the British Veterinary Nursing Association Congress and at that stage, I was just starting to locum and have my own limited company business. To think what if, what happens if I can’t work? Where is the money going to come from? The rent going to get paid? How am I going to pay all the bills? We’re only three pay checks away maybe being out on the streets. And I know that sounds quite frightening.

Sign-up process was quite a long time ago. It was about 10 years ago. But from memory, wasn’t traumatic. Quotes online. Just put the bank details in, how much do you want to be paid if you’re off. And then that was it. So yeah, really simple. And actually, the payments at the time, yeah, were very reasonable. They’re a non-profit organization. I hadn’t really heard of one of those before. I was just like, okay, right. But yeah, they answered all the questions, approachable.

And I did a little bit of research on them, as in, you know, like feedback, Trustpilot, that type of stuff. And all good reviews. So I just thought what’s the point. Let’s just crack on. And then each year you have your letter through in relation to the profit share. Actually, I am going to get a little bit back at the end of the day, which is, yeah, really good**.

So it was a very wet and windy January evening and I was rushing out of the door and I slipped, stroke tripped on a paving slab. One minute I was up, next minute I was down. Shearing pain and I just, yeah, I just knew that I’d broken my leg.

And the nurse turned round, looked at the X-rays and I said, I’m going to Africa in two weeks. And she gave me a look of no, you’re not, you’re not going anywhere in two weeks. I’m slow. No.

So post-accident, on it on the Monday morning, filled in an online claim form, which was really, really easy. Took probably less than five minutes. Then rang PG Mutual, to Paul, said, this is me, this is my situation. He was really helpful. I just had to send him a copy of my note from the hospital and I said, do I need to do anything else? And he said, no, just let us know when you are going back to work, let me know if there’s another sick note. They have been really good. Wasn’t that worried initially because I knew it was there.

Have I been surprised? Maybe a little bit because I just thought they were big and corporate, etc. But yeah, I’ve been pleasantly surprised.

I was signed off for six weeks, I think. Then it went to 12 and in the end, I ended up having four months off. Went back to work for a couple of weeks and then I had to have another two weeks off, emailed and said, this is the situation. He said, no problem. It still came under the same original condition, even though it was five months later.

I hadn’t realized that the policy that I took out, there was no time constraint limit on how long I could claim for*. Talking to friends or colleagues, they were like, oh, wow, that’s really good because their policy allowed them to claim for just three months for an injury. But mine has no limit on it. Which again, thank God.

I have told my colleagues at work. You know, people were like, oh, yeah, well, I’ve obviously got it. And, you know, the vets have got it because if they damage their hands, they can’t do surgery. Some of the younger members of staff are a bit poo-pooing it, you know, because they think it’s just for old people. But, you know, I’m just like, but you just — nobody knows what, you know, you could be in a car accident and break your leg.

And I have said to them time and time again that the only way that I’m still sort of managing financially is because of the income protection. Genuinely, if it wasn’t there, I don’t know. It’s a long time without any money. It’s a long time because all the bills still keep going out. I don’t know where the money would have come from. I really don’t.

I think people think it might be too expensive for them. And for, you know, I guess a monthly payment. I think I would argue that it depends on the type of cover you want, how much you want to cover and to find out about it rather than just thinking about it. Just actually find out. If this is your only form of paying them, then you need to take it out.

Just not having normal routine, not being able to go to work, not seeing your peers, just meeting up with friends — it’s been hard. Four months, sat in here, in the flat on my own with a dog. I didn’t think it would be as tough as it has been, to be fair.

Obviously the GP and the counselling services that I can access through PG Mutual if I need to. Because I do know it’s there, and again, if I need repeat surgery, then I will be going back with another claim. But after that, I just want to get walking boots on, getting up the hill with the dog, going back to kickboxing twice a week and… but I just want to get back to normal life.

Normal me.

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