Make sure your family’s financially secure if you die
Premiums from £7.54 a month1
You’re covered for a terminal illness from day one
99.1% of life insurance claims paid in 20242
Life insurance is a policy that pays out a lump sum to your family or loved ones if you die or are diagnosed with a terminal illness during its term.
It's quick and easy to set up. It needn't be expensive. And it can give you welcome reassurance.
There’s more to our cover than paying your loved ones a lump sum if you die. We’re here for you all in tough times
You’re covered for a terminal illness from day one
We'll pay 100% of your lump sum in advance if you're diagnosed with a terminal illness and have less than 12 months to live
Includes health support for you and your family
Access a UK-registered GP online or by phone 24/7, plus other health and wellbeing services3 and compassionate support.
This service is separate from the policy contract. It’s free but may be withdrawn at any time.
Add cover for children or a critical illness
Serious conditions can affect anyone and be expensive. It’s easy to add critical illness and children’s cover. Extra costs apply
When you buy Post Office Life Insurance, you’ll also get a special reward. Choose a gift card† from a choice of retailers or an unforgettable experience††.
† Qualifying period, minimum premiums and terms and conditions apply
†† Qualifying period, minimum premiums and terms and conditions apply
Cover for UK residents aged 18-70
Up to £750,000 of cover, depending on age
Terminal illness cover from day one if you have less than 12 months to live
Health, wellbeing and bereavement support for you and your family3
A choice of individual or joint cover
Critical illness cover. Pays a lump sum if you’re diagnosed with a critical illness, to help financially while you recover
Children’s cover. Pays a lump sum for accidental death or medical expenses if your child suffers a serious injury or illness specified in the policy
We offer different types of life insurance to meet different needs. The cover type you need may depend on what you want to protect and how much you'd like to pay each month
Pays your loved ones a fixed lump sum to help maintain their living standards if you die during the term of your policy
Pays out a reducing amount over time, matching what you owe on a mortgage or other debts like loans and credit cards to help loved ones pay them if you die
Pays out a lump sum that increases with inflation to keep pace with rising prices. Your monthly payments may rise, but so does the lump sum
Choosing life cover can feel tricky, but we’re here to help. Our tools, guides and friendly team make it easier to explore your options with confidence
Our friendly team’s here to help you understand your options and find the right cover for your needs
Monday to Friday: 9am - 8pm
Saturday: 9am - 5pm
Closed Sundays and bank holidays
Quote ‘TREATS’ when applying by phone4 for the experience offer
Want to explore your options first? Our calculator helps you estimate how much cover you might need based on your income, mortgage, savings and debts
If you're aged 50-80 and want to leave a gift or help cover funeral costs, our Over 50s Life Cover could be right for you:
Life insurance helps to protect your loved ones financially in the event of your death. Post Office Life insurance is designed to pay a lump sum if you die or are diagnosed with a terminal illness and have less than 12 months to live. You choose the amount of cover you need and how long you need it for and pay a regular monthly premium. You can also choose between a joint life or a single life insurance policy. Your premiums are guaranteed to stay the same unless you make changes to your policy. The lump sum from your policy can be used to help pay the mortgage or help protect your family's lifestyle and everyday living expenses.
For more details on how Post Office Life Insurance works, including the definitions of terminal illnesses we’ll pay out for, please read our terms and conditions.
People rarely want to think about life insurance. But certain moments in life may make you look seriously into taking out a policy – like getting married, having children, buying a home and more.
If you have people who depend on you, like children or a partner, it can be sobering to consider what might happen to them if you pass away unexpectedly.
A life insurance policy can protect your loved ones against uncertainty. It’s way to make sure your dependants are financially protected if the worst were to happen.
There’s no legal requirement to take out life insurance if you’re taking on a mortgage. But many lenders will strongly recommend you get covered if you do. It’s a way to make sure the mortgage debt will be paid off if you die. And that can be welcome reassurance to your loved ones at a tough time, so they’re not at risk of losing their home as well as losing you.
Most life insurance providers will offer a decreasing term life cover option. This type of cover will reduce over time, roughly in line with the way a repayment mortgage reduces. If you die while covered, your family will get a lump sum to help cover the remaining mortgage. This means they get to stay in the family home without the worry of mortgage payment.
Even if you don't have a mortgage, life insurance could help your family cover the cost of everyday living and maintain their lifestyle. Things like rent, private or university education costs, birthdays and weddings all need paying for. You may even need cover to pay for domestic tasks if the person left behind has to pay someone to do them after you're gone.
Critical illness cover pays a cash sum if, during your policy term, you suffer from heart attacks, strokes (depending on the severity), coronary artery or certain types of cancer that meet our definition.
At such a difficult time, it can ease financial pressures on you, your family or your partner. For instance, it may help pay for a mortgage, rent or everyday living costs. It might also be used for modifications to your home needed as a result of your illness. Find out more about our critical illness benefit, or our guide on family life insurance.
Joint life insurance protects two people under one policy with one monthly premium payment. It only pays out once if a policyholder dies within the term.
Two single policies protect each policyholder separately but will mean paying two premiums each month. Consider which option is right for you.
With Post Office Life Insurance, your monthly payments will continue until the earliest of these:
If you make a claim after being diagnosed with a terminal illness, please don't stop paying your monthly payments. We’ll first confirm if your terminal illness meets our terminal illness definition, as per the terms and conditions .
For many people, life insurance is an important way to protect their loved ones. But how many of us actually have it? And how much do people really know about this kind ...
Death in service cover is a useful employee benefit but relying on it alone could put your family at risk financially. Find out how it compares to life insurance and why ...
Your family is unique. Protecting them from life’s uncertainties is important. Life insurance offers a way to provide financial security for your loved ones if something ...
Turning 50 is a great time to try new things. The right life cover can help you enjoy travel, hobbies and big life changes without worry.
Life insurance can offer your loved ones peace of mind and financial security if you pass away or become critically ill.
No one really likes to think about their funeral. But it’s important to because they can be expensive.
Life insurance is more than just a safety net. It can be a smart investment in your family’s future and your business’s continuity, especially if you’re self-employed.
What’s the difference between life insurance and life assurance? We can help with that.
Choosing the right life insurance policy as a couple can be challenging. Should you apply for one joint policy or take out separate single policies instead?
It seems there are certain events in people’s life that prompt them to buy life insurance.
If you want to leave your loved ones financial protection for your home, even if you’re not there to help pay the mortgage, you may want to take out mortgage life ...
Post Office Life Insurance is underwritten and administered by Scottish Friendly Assurance Society Limited. Neilson Financial Services Limited assist in the administration. If you buy Post Office Life Insurance over the telephone or online via the Post Office website, it is arranged and sold by Neilson Financial Services Limited, following an introduction by Post Office Limited. If you buy Post Office Life Insurance online via a price comparison website, it is arranged and sold by the firm that provides the price comparison website services.
Post Office Limited is an appointed representative of Post Office Management Services Limited which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, FRN 630318. Registered in England and Wales. Registered numbers 2154540 and 08459718 respectively. Registered office: 100 Wood Street, London, EC2V 7ER.
† Gift card offer ends 31 December 2025. Minimum premiums and 180-day qualifying period applies.
†† Experience offer ends 31 December 2025. Minimum premiums and 180-day qualifying period applies.
* Restrictions apply, see amazon.co.uk/gc-legal
Post Office Life Insurance is for customers who are UK residents aged 18-70 at the start of the policy. The minimum term is 5 years and cover must end before your 90th birthday.
We won’t pay a claim if you don’t keep your payments up to date as you will no longer be covered under the policy. If you don’t tell us something or give us incorrect answers to our application questions that affects your cover, we may reduce the amount we pay for a claim or at worst cancel your cover and not refund your monthly payments.
1 Based on 31-year-old non-smoker in good health buying £100,000 level cover over a 21-year term.
2 Post Office Life Insurance is provided by Scottish Friendly. Scottish Friendly paid 99.1% of life insurance claims they received in 2024.
3 This service is separate to and does not form part of the Post Office Over 50s Life Cover policy contract. It’s available to you for free but may be withdrawn at any time. Health and Wellbeing Services are provided by MediPartner Limited.
4 Calls to 03 numbers will cost no more than calling a standard UK number starting with 01 or 02 from your fixed line or mobile and may be included in your call package. Calls may be monitored or recorded for training and compliance purposes.