Claiming Life Insurance After a Death: A Practical UK Guide

This is often the first barrier. Many people don't know whether their loved one had insurance, or where it is.

Check their paperwork

Start with documents at their home. Look for:

• Insurance company letters or policy documents
• Annual statements or renewal notices
• Bank statements (showing regular premium payments)
• Mortgage paperwork (often includes mortgage life insurance)
• Employment documents (many employers offer group life insurance)
• Building society or bank correspondence

Life insurance policies can sit untouched for years. Check filing cabinets, drawers, and anywhere they kept important documents.

Contact their bank

Banks often hold records of insurance policies customers have taken out. Call their bereavement team and ask if the deceased had any life insurance registered. Be prepared to provide proof of death (the death certificate) and your relationship to them. Major UK banks have dedicated bereavement services; they'll route your call appropriately.

Ask their employer

Employer group life insurance is common and often free. Contact their personnel or HR department and ask if they held a life insurance policy through work. This is particularly important because you might not know about it.

Check with a financial advisor

If they had a financial advisor, contact them. They should have records of any policies they sold or recommended.

Use the ABI Unclaimed Policies Service

The Association of British Insurers runs a free search service called the Unclaimed Policies Index. You can search online at www.abi.org.uk or call 0370 241 0564. This searches a database of policies where the policyholder has died or stopped paying premiums. It takes about 15 minutes. They'll tell you if a policy is registered in the name of the deceased.

Understanding this distinction is crucial, because it affects how the payout is treated for inheritance tax and probate purposes.

Non-trust policies (payable to the estate)

Most standard life insurance is written on a non-trust basis. When the policy pays out, the money goes directly into the deceased's Estate. This means:

• The money counts towards their total assets for inheritance tax
• The money must go through Probate (in most cases)
• It takes longer to reach beneficiaries
• It becomes part of the deceased's will or Intestacy

Trust policies (payable directly to named beneficiaries)

Some policies are written "on trust" or "written in trust". This means the payout goes directly to named beneficiaries, completely bypassing the estate. This means:

• The money is not counted for inheritance tax purposes (in most cases)
• The money does not form part of probate
• Beneficiaries can receive payment quickly, sometimes within days
• It's tax-efficient

If you find a policy, check whether it's written in trust. The policy document will state this clearly. If it is, you can claim directly without waiting for probate.

Step 1: Gather the required documents

Before contacting the insurance company, collect:

• The original policy document (or a copy)
• The death certificate (full certificate with cause of death)
• Proof of your authority to claim (will, letter of probate, or a statutory declaration if you're a beneficiary)
• Proof of your identity (passport or driving licence)
• Proof of your relationship to the deceased

Some insurers add more requirements, but these are the basics. If you don't have the original policy, the insurance company can usually locate records using the deceased's name and date of birth.

Step 2: Contact the insurance company

Find the insurer's bereavement team. Most major insurers have dedicated numbers for claims after death. The policy document will list contact details. If not, search online for "[Insurance Company Name] bereavement team" or call their main customer service and ask to be transferred.

When you call, have the policy number ready if possible. Explain that the policyholder has died and you're making a claim. They'll send you a claim form and a list of documents they need.

Some key insurance company bereavement contacts:

• Legal & General: 0371 664 2272 (Monday to Friday 08:00-20:00, Saturday 09:00-17:00)
• Aviva: 0800 917 8380 (Monday to Friday 08:00-20:00, Saturday 09:00-17:00)
• AXA: 0800 085 1511 (Monday to Friday 08:00-20:00, Saturday 09:00-17:00)
• Zurich: 0800 587 5090

Different insurers have different processes, but all major firms now offer streamlined bereavement claims handling.

Step 3: Complete the claim form

The insurer will send a claim form and a list of documents they need. Complete the form carefully and thoroughly. Be accurate about dates, particularly:

• The date the policy started
• The date of death
• Any recent changes to the policy

Include all requested documents. Incomplete applications cause delays.

Step 4: Submit the claim

Submit the completed form and documents. Some insurers accept email, others require post. Ask which method is preferred. Keep copies of everything you send.

Step 5: Assessment and payout

The insurance company will assess the claim. This usually involves checking:

• Whether the policy was active at death
• Whether premiums were paid up to date
• Whether there are any exclusions that apply
• Any policy exclusions related to the cause of death

Straightforward claims typically process within 4 to 8 weeks. Some take longer, particularly if the insurer needs additional information or if there are complications.

• Death certificate: The insurer will almost certainly ask for a certified copy. You'll get several copies from the Register Office when you register the death. Order extra; you'll need them for other claims too.
• Policy document or policy number: The original or a copy. If lost, the insurer can locate it from their records.
• Proof of claim authority: If the policy is written to the estate, you'll need to show you have authority to claim (a grant of probate or power of attorney). If the policy is in trust and names you as beneficiary, your ID is usually sufficient.
• Identification: Passport or driving licence for the person claiming.
• Relationship proof: Birth certificate or marriage certificate showing your relationship to the deceased.
• Medical records (if relevant): If the claim might be affected by health issues or exclusions, insurers sometimes request these. For example, if the death was within 2 years of the policy start and there's any question about undisclosed health information.
• Proof of address: A recent utility bill or bank statement showing your current address.

Most insurers provide a checklist of what they need. Gather it all before submitting; this speeds up assessment.

These timescales assume you provide all documents promptly. Delays usually happen because:

• Documents weren't included with the claim form
• The insurer needs clarification from you
• There's a policy exclusion the insurer is investigating
• The claim might be contested (see below)

Trust-based policies sometimes pay out faster, within days or weeks, because they bypass probate. Non-trust policies may wait until probate is granted.

An insurer can reject a claim if:

• The policy was not active at the time of death (lapsed through non-payment)
• An exclusion applies
• There was material misrepresentation when the policy was taken out
• Premiums were not paid up to date
• The claim is within the contestable period and something is wrong with the application

If your claim is rejected, the insurer must provide a written explanation. You have the right to:

• Ask for a detailed explanation in writing
• Request a review of the decision (most insurers offer an internal review)
• Complain to the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) if you believe the decision is unfair

Keep all correspondence. If you believe the rejection is wrong, write to the insurer's complaints department outlining why you disagree.

When a life insurance policy is first taken out, there's a contestable period (usually the first 2 years). During this time, the insurer can investigate the original application and reject a claim if they find the applicant gave false information or failed to disclose something material.

For example, if the applicant was asked about their health and didn't disclose a serious condition, the insurer might reject the claim if death occurs within 2 years. After 2 years, the insurer cannot contest the claim on these grounds; they must pay.

This matters if the policy is relatively new. It's another reason to provide complete documentation early on; if there's an issue, the insurer will identify it early.

Most life insurance policies exclude suicide if it occurs within the first 1 to 2 years of the policy. If death occurs after that period, there's no exclusion.

If the cause of death is recorded as suicide and the death is within the exclusion period, the insurer will usually reject the claim. However, if the cause is later changed (following an inquest), the insurer may reconsider.

If the death was likely suicide but is recorded as accidental, you have no obligation to correct this for insurance purposes. The cause is a matter of legal record. However, if the insurer becomes aware of the true circumstances, they may investigate.

Many employers offer group life insurance to employees, often without employees even knowing. Check with the HR department:

• Is there a group policy?
• Do I have coverage?
• Who is the beneficiary?
• How much cover is there?

Group policies often pay out to the estate (non-trust) or to named beneficiaries (trust). The employer should tell you how to claim. The process is similar to individual policies but is usually faster because the employer already knows the policyholder has died.

If the deceased changed jobs, check with their previous employer as well. Sometimes group policies continue for a period after employment ends.

Mortgage life insurance

Many people took out insurance linked to their mortgage. The proceeds often go directly to the lender to clear the mortgage debt. Check the mortgage paperwork. If there's a linked policy:

• The money pays off the remaining mortgage
• The house is then clear of the mortgage
• Anything left over goes to the estate

This is different from standalone life insurance.

Standalone insurance

This is insurance not linked to a mortgage. The money goes to the policy owner's estate or to named beneficiaries.

Check the policy paperwork to see which type you have.

This is important.

If the policy is written in trust and payable to named beneficiaries, the payout is usually outside the estate and not counted for inheritance tax. This is tax-efficient. Understanding how debts are paid from the estate helps you see why the trust distinction matters so much.

If the policy is payable to the estate (non-trust), the money counts towards the total assets of the estate and may be subject to inheritance tax. The rate is 40% on anything above the nil-rate band (currently £325,000). For every pound of life insurance that's not in trust, up to 40% might go to HMRC instead of beneficiaries.

You can write a new life insurance policy in trust to avoid this, but only for future policies, not ones that already exist.

Some couples hold joint life insurance, which pays out on the death of the first partner. The policy remains in force on the surviving partner. Some joint policies pay out on the death of both partners.

Check the policy documents to see what it covers. The claim process is the same, but knowing what the policy is supposed to do helps you understand what you should expect.

Once the money arrives:

• If it went to the estate, it becomes part of the assets to be distributed under the will or intestacy
• If it was in trust, the beneficiary named in the policy receives it directly
• If there are debts or estate costs, these may come out of the insurance money
• Consider setting some aside for inheritance tax if needed
• Don't spend it immediately; let solicitors or advisors guide you

If the amount is substantial, consider getting advice from a solicitor or accountant on how to handle it tax-efficiently.

Insurance money is not immune to claims. If the deceased had significant debts or a contested will, creditors or other claimants might try to pursue the insurance money. Having the money written in trust and payable to beneficiaries, rather than to the estate, protects it.

Insurers contact beneficiaries directly. If you're a named beneficiary on a trust policy, the insurer may contact you directly, bypassing the executor. This is legitimate. However, if you receive an unsolicited contact claiming to be from an insurance company, verify it before sharing any information.

Premium payment records matter. If the policyholder was behind on payments and the policy was in grace period (a period after a missed payment where cover continues), the insurer will deduct the unpaid premiums from the payout.

Inflation-linked policies might be worth more than you think. Some life insurance policies have payouts that increase with inflation. Check the policy details. The actual benefit at death might be significantly higher than the original cover amount.

Unclaimed insurance is surprisingly common. Many people die with insurance policies no one knew about. If you're an Executor or Administrator, it's worth doing a thorough search. Some family members might be entitled to payouts they don't know exist.

Once you've claimed the life insurance:

1. Read our guide to probate: How to apply for probate
2. Understand inheritance tax implications: Inheritance tax guide
3. Notify banks and building societies: Notifying banks
4. If there's a mortgage: Mortgage after death

If you're struggling with the claims process or anything else after a death, please reach out:

• Samaritans: 116 123 (24 hours, free)
• Cruse Bereavement Care: 0808 808 1677 (Monday to Friday 09:30-17:00)
• Mind: 0300 123 3393 (Monday to Friday 09:00-18:00)