Income protection insurance pays out if you can’t do your job due to an accident or sickness. Most providers will class not being able to work as not being able of do your specific job, rather than any job.
It will usually pay around 60% of your current income, so it ensures you have some income that will help pay your mortgage and other living costs should you not be able to work for a period of time.
It can carry on paying until you go back to work or retire, or it can pay for shorter periods, such as up to two years or five years. If you went back to work prior to this time, it will stop paying. Generally, a shorter payment period will result in the policy being cheaper. Multiple claims within the insured period are allowed, subject to certain criteria being met.