National Friendly: COVER Excellence Award winner 2025

Can't work
after an accident?Get paid £750 to £2,250 a month.

Accident and sickness cover with no upfront medical checks. The monthly payout is paid for absence beyond a 14-day waiting period.

Starting from
53pa day
at 18, your price depends on your age
No upfront medical checks14-day waiting periodCancel anytimeAuthorised and Regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority
or call 01872 885889
A self-employed builder with his van
A mechanic working under the bonnet
A window cleaner on a ladder
Claims paid
96%+
Your quote in 2 minutes

Let's get you covered

One quick question, then your personalised quote

Free • No obligation • 2 mins
Your application25% complete

What you get

£750 to £2,250

a month payout if you can't work

No upfront

medical checks

£350 to £3,000

cash for broken bones

£45,000 to £85,000

if you die in an accident

24/7 virtual GP

your family too

Dentist app

for you, any time

Current offerApply online, get your first month back after your third payment.

One quick question

Then your price

Do you work at least 16 hours per week?

256-bit encryptedAuthorised and Regulated by the Financial Conduct AuthorityNo spam, ever

Questions? Call PFS on 01872 885379 , real people in Cornwall.

Authorised and Regulated by the Financial Conduct AuthorityUnderwritten by National FriendlyInsurer won COVER Excellence Awards 202596%+ claims paid
A window cleaner with a leg cast looking at a pile of overdue bills
When work stops

What you're covered for

One slip off a ladder, one fall, one bad break, and the bills keep coming. Friendly Shield steps in with proper income protection plus a stack of extras.

£750 to £2,250

Monthly payout if you can't work, for up to 3 months

£350 to £3,000

Cash for broken bones

£85,000

Accidental death lump sum

24/7

Virtual GP and dentist access

£1,000

Rehabilitation benefit

£2,500

Natural death benefit*

*Natural death benefit payable after a 2-year qualifying period. Benefits shown are Gold tier maximums.

A taxi driver at home with his arm in a sling and overdue bills, work stops, bills don't

Three plans, clear monthly prices

Your price depends on your age when you take the cover out (18 to 60). Prices shown are the lowest, at age 18. No hidden costs.

Bronze

£16 a month

just 53p a day

  • £750 a month payout
  • £350 to £1,000 for broken bones
  • Virtual GP access
Get my quote

Silver

£23 a month

just 77p a day

  • £1,500 a month payout
  • £700 to £2,000 for broken bones
  • Virtual GP access
Get my quote
Most popular

Gold

£29 a month

just 97p a day

  • £2,250 a month payout
  • £1,000 to £3,000 for broken bones
  • £85,000 if you die in an accident
Get my quote

Add a spouse or partner from £5 a month, children £3 a month each. Monthly payouts are paid for each full month off work; part months are paid at a daily rate. The monthly payout is paid for absence beyond a 14-day waiting period, for up to 3 months per claim. Short-term cover, not long-term income replacement.

Real claims, real payouts

96%+of claims paid out

Proper cover with proper payouts. The monthly payout covers absence beyond the 14-day waiting period, and once a claim is approved you get paid, on average within 14 days. No hoops, no drama.

14-day average payout after approval2,000+ policyholders protectedNational Friendly, COVER Excellence Awards 2025

Real claims, really paid

Friendly Shield claims published by National Friendly

Self-employed taxi driver, picture for illustration

£6,750 paid out

Mr K

Self-employed taxi driver · Gold · 3 months off the road

Slipped on his doorstep and hurt his back. Couldn’t drive for three months. Friendly Shield paid the full three months of benefit.

Warehouse operative, picture for illustration

£4,915 paid out

Warehouse operative, 35

Warehouse operative · Gold · 7 weeks off work

Fell down some steps and fractured his elbow. £2,000 for the fracture straight away, then £2,915 once the 14-day wait ended.

Painter and decorator, picture for illustration

£2,000 paid out

Mr S

Painter and decorator · Gold · paid within a day

Fell 15ft when his ladder slipped and fractured his shoulder. £2,000 within a day of sending evidence, then his monthly payout two weeks later.

Industrial plant driver, picture for illustration

£2,160 paid out

Mr J

Industrial plant driver · Gold · 6 weeks off work

Fractured his collar bone falling off his bike. £1,000 for the fracture before his monthly payout began, £2,160 in total.

Real claims from National Friendly's Friendly Shield case studies (FS CS 12.25). Names are withheld by National Friendly; pictures are for illustration only. Illness is covered too: a funeral director off with breathing problems and stress was paid £6,700.

Protect what matters most

No upfront medical checks.
No long forms.
No hassle.

Join thousands of working people across the UK already protected by Friendly Shield, from 53p a day, depending on your age.

Get your quote now →
A dad with a broken leg, family worried about bills, what Friendly Shield protects against
A young barista with her arm in a sling, coffee shop closed, bills overdue
For working people

Built for people who actually work

If you're self-employed, a gig worker, or don't get employer sick pay, one accident could mean zero income. Friendly Shield pays a monthly benefit for absence beyond a 14-day waiting period, no upfront medical checks, no hassle.

85%

of self-employed workers have no income protection

Statutory Sick Pay doesn't apply to the self-employed. Friendly Shield bridges that gap.

Tradespeople
Self-employed
Delivery drivers
Care workers
Hairdressers
Builders
Gig workers
Shift workers
Get your quote now
Frequently asked

Got questions? We've got answers.

The honest answers to what people actually ask us.

When will I get paid if I claim?
Two separate things worth keeping apart. First, the monthly payout only covers absence beyond the 14-day waiting period, so the clock starts on day 15, not the day of the accident. Second, once a claim is approved, payment reaches your bank account on average within 14 days. We pay directly into your account, no vouchers, no delays.
Am I eligible if I'm self-employed?
Yes. Friendly Shield is built specifically for self-employed people, tradespeople, gig workers, and anyone without employer sick pay. You just need to work at least 16 hours a week and be registered with a UK GP.
How long does income protection pay out for?
Up to 3 months per claim, for up to 3 claims in any 3-year period. That's designed to cover the kind of real-world injuries that keep working people off the job, broken bones, joint injuries, back problems.
Is there a waiting period before I can claim?
Yes, and it matters, so here it is plainly. The monthly payout is paid for absence that goes beyond a 14-day waiting period, whether you are off through sickness or injury. It does not pay for the first 14 days. Fracture cover works differently: there is no waiting period, but fractures in the first 7 days of the policy are not covered. Full details are in the policy summary.
Who is this policy not suitable for?
National Friendly are clear that Friendly Shield is not suitable for people who need long-term income replacement, who are unemployed or working fewer than 16 hours a week, who are looking to cover previous or ongoing medical conditions, who have known chronic conditions or are currently off work sick, who work in excluded or high-risk occupations, or who take part in professional sports. If any of that applies to you, this is not the right cover.
Are any jobs excluded?
Yes. Excluded occupations and high-risk environments include the Armed Forces, the Police, and occupations involving firearms or explosives. The occupation list on the quote form shows whether your job is accepted before you go any further.
What does fracture cover not include?
Fracture cover pays a one-off amount for specified bone fractures, and there is no waiting period on it. But pre-existing fractures are excluded, fractures in the first 7 days of the policy are not covered, and stress fractures, hairline fractures, micro-fractures and avulsions or chips are all excluded. The fracture must be diagnosed by a consultant, and the amount depends on your cover level.
Can I cancel whenever I want?
Yes. No long contracts, no exit fees. You can cancel any time, just be aware that if you cancel and want to re-apply later, there's a 2-year re-application restriction.
Are you legit? Who actually pays the claims?
Yes. Friendly Shield is underwritten by National Deposit Friendly Society Limited (established 1868) and distributed by Pure Financial Solutions Ltd, a Cornish broker authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, FRN 712612. Claims are paid by National Friendly. We're listed on the Financial Services Register.

Still have questions? Call us on 01872 885379 or drop us an email.