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👪 Family Life Insurance

Family Life Insurance from £5/month

40% of UK families have no life insurance. Raising a child to 18 costs £160,000 on average. Make sure your family is financially secure if the worst happens.

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Answer a few simple questions and compare family life insurance quotes from every major UK insurer, no pressure, no obligation.

What Is Family Life Insurance?

Family life insurance is any life insurance policy designed to protect your loved ones financially if you die. It ensures your partner and children can maintain their standard of living, keep their home, and meet everyday expenses without your income.

There are three main types of life insurance that families in the UK commonly choose:

  • Term life insurance, pays a lump sum if you die within a set period (e.g. 20 or 25 years). The most popular and affordable option for families with growing children.
  • Family income benefit, pays a regular monthly income to your family instead of a lump sum. Often cheaper and mirrors how your family actually uses money.
  • Whole of life insurance, guaranteed to pay out whenever you die, with no end date. Premiums are higher, but it provides lifelong security and can help with inheritance tax planning.

The right choice depends on your family's situation, your income, your mortgage, how many children you have, and how long they will depend on you financially. Most families find that term life insurance or family income benefit offers the best value during the years when protection matters most.

Key fact: The 10x income rule is a widely used guideline. If you earn £40,000, you should aim for at least £400,000 of cover, plus enough to clear your mortgage and fund your children's needs until they are financially independent.

For a detailed breakdown of how much cover your family needs, see our guide to calculating the right amount of life insurance.

Policy Comparison

Term Life vs Whole of Life vs Family Income Benefit

Each policy type serves a different purpose. Here is how they compare for families looking to protect their loved ones.

FeatureTerm Life InsuranceWhole of LifeFIB
How it worksLump sumGuaranteed lump sumMonthly income paid
Cost£10–15/mo£40–£80/mo typical£5–£12/mo typical
Best forCovering mortgage + incomeLifelong cover &Replacing your monthly
Policy durationFixed term (e.g. 20–30Lifetime, no end dateFixed term (e.g. 20–25
FlexibilityChoose level or decreasingCan build a cash value overPayments mirror your
Best suitedMost families with aThose wanting guaranteedFamilies who prefer income

Costs shown are indicative for a 30-year-old non-smoker with £300,000 cover (or £2,000/month for FIB) over 25 years. Your quote may differ.

Important: Death-in-service benefits from your employer typically cover only 2–4x your salary. For a family with a mortgage, children, and living expenses, this is rarely enough. A personal policy fills the gap. Read more about term vs whole of life insurance.
Who Needs It?

Does Your Family Need Life Insurance?

If any of these situations sound familiar, protecting your family with life insurance should be a priority.

👶

Young Families with a Mortgage

If you have young children and a mortgage, your family faces two major financial risks. Life insurance ensures your home is safe and your children are provided for until they are old enough to support themselves.

Term life + family income benefit
💷

Families with One Income

If your household relies on a single earner, the financial impact of losing that income would be devastating. Cover should replace the full income for the years your children need support, plus clear your mortgage.

Level term, 10x annual income
🧒

Families with Young Children

The younger your children, the longer they will depend on your financial support. A 25-year term policy taken out when your child is born covers them through to financial independence, including university years.

25-year term recommended
🏠

Blended Families

Stepfamilies and blended families often have more complex financial responsibilities. Writing your policy in trust ensures the right people receive the payout, regardless of your family structure or legal arrangements.

Write policy in trust
❤️

Families with Special Needs Children

If your child has additional needs, they may depend on your financial support well beyond 18. Whole of life insurance or a longer-term policy ensures they are cared for no matter what happens to you.

Whole of life recommended
🏢

Families Relying on Death-in-Service Only

Employer death-in-service benefits are a valuable perk, but they disappear if you change jobs, are made redundant, or go self-employed. A personal policy stays with you and can be tailored to your family's actual needs.

Personal policy essential

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Costs Explained

How Much Does Family Life Insurance Cost?

Family life insurance is often far more affordable than people expect. Here is a typical breakdown for a healthy 30-year-old non-smoker with £300,000 of cover over 25 years.

£5–£12/mo
Family Income Benefit
Pays a regular monthly income to your family. Often the most affordable way to replace your earnings and cover everyday living costs.
£10–£15/mo
Level Term Life Insurance
Pays a lump sum that stays the same throughout the policy. Ideal for covering your mortgage, debts, and providing a financial safety net.
Worth knowing: Joint life insurance policies are cheaper than two single policies, but they only pay out once on the first death. For families, two single policies usually provide better value because the surviving parent keeps their own cover. See our guide to joint life insurance.

Smokers, older applicants, and those with pre-existing conditions will typically pay more, but cover is almost always available. Comparing the whole market ensures you find the best price for your family's circumstances.

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Real Reviews

What Our Customers Say

James W.
James & Hannah W.
Bristol • Family Life Insurance
★★★★★
“One less thing to worry about”

With two kids under five and a mortgage, life insurance felt overwhelming. The adviser made it straightforward, we ended up with family income benefit for £8/month each. Knowing our children are protected is a massive relief.

Sarah P.
Sarah P.
Leeds • Family Life Insurance
★★★★★
“Far cheaper than I expected”

I am the sole earner in our family and had been putting off getting life insurance for years. The whole process took 20 minutes and I am paying £14/month for £400,000 of cover. I should have done this years ago.

David C.
David & Amy C.
Manchester • Family Life Insurance
★★★★★
“Covered our whole family properly”

We are a blended family with four children between us. The adviser helped us set up two single policies written in trust so that all of our children would be provided for. Really thorough and genuinely helpful service.

Natalie H.
Natalie H.
Edinburgh • Family Life Insurance
★★★★★
“Family income benefit was perfect for us”

With three children and a mortgage, we needed something affordable that would replace my income. Family income benefit pays £2,500 a month if I die, and it only costs us £11 a month. The adviser explained it all in plain English.

Chris B.
Chris B.
Norwich • Family Life Insurance
★★★★★
“Both of us now covered separately”

We originally had a joint policy but the adviser explained that two single policies were better for our family. If one of us dies, the other still has their own cover in place. It cost £6 more a month but the extra protection is worth every penny.

Rebecca M.
Rebecca M.
Cardiff • Family Life Insurance
★★★★★
“Written in trust for our daughters”

We have twin girls and wanted to make sure the money would go directly to them without delays. The adviser set both policies up in trust at no extra charge. Took about 25 minutes and everything is now properly in place.

Learn More

Related Guides

Explore our guides to make the best decision for your family's protection.

How Much Cover Do I Need?

Calculate the right amount for your family

Joint Life Insurance

Cover for couples explained

Term vs Whole of Life

Which type suits your family?

Life Insurance in Trust

Protect your payout for your family

How Much Does It Cost?

UK life insurance pricing explained

Life Insurance & Critical Illness

Combined cover for families
Got Questions?

Family Life Insurance: Frequently Asked Questions

Family life insurance is a term used to describe any life insurance policy taken out to protect your family financially if you die. It can be a term life policy (which runs for a set number of years), whole of life insurance (which pays out whenever you die), or family income benefit (which pays a regular monthly income to your family rather than a lump sum). The right choice depends on your family's circumstances, debts, and how long your children will depend on your income.
A common guideline is to cover at least 10 times your annual income, plus any outstanding debts such as your mortgage. For a family earning £40,000 a year with a £250,000 mortgage, that would mean around £650,000 of cover. You should also factor in the cost of raising your children to 18 (approximately £160,000 per child) and any future education costs. An adviser can help you calculate the exact amount. See our guide to how much cover you need.
Family life insurance is often more affordable than people expect. A healthy 30-year-old non-smoker can typically get £300,000 of level term cover over 25 years from around £10 to £15 per month. Family income benefit, which pays a monthly income rather than a lump sum, can start from as little as £5 per month. Costs vary depending on age, health, smoking status, and the amount and type of cover. See our guide to life insurance costs in the UK.
Term life insurance runs for a fixed period (e.g. 20 or 25 years) and only pays out if you die during that term. It is affordable and ideal for covering your family while children are growing up. Whole of life insurance has no end date and guarantees a payout whenever you die, but premiums are significantly higher. Most families find term life insurance offers the best value for the period when their dependants need protection most. Read our guide to term vs whole of life insurance for more detail.
Family income benefit (FIB) is a type of term life insurance that pays a regular monthly or annual income to your family if you die, rather than a single lump sum. For example, instead of a £300,000 payout, your family might receive £2,000 per month until the policy ends. It is often cheaper than standard term life insurance and can be easier for families to manage, as it replaces your income in a way that mirrors how your family actually uses money.
Yes, both parents should ideally have their own life insurance policy. Even if one parent does not work, they provide childcare, household management, and other services that would cost thousands of pounds a year to replace. The cost of full-time childcare alone averages around £14,000 per year in the UK. If the stay-at-home parent died, the working parent would need to fund this while continuing to work.
A joint life insurance policy covers two people but only pays out once on the first death, then the policy ends. Two separate single policies cost more but provide independent cover for both parents. If one parent dies, the surviving parent keeps their own policy. For families, two single policies usually offer better overall protection because the surviving parent still has cover in place for the children. Read our joint life insurance guide for a full comparison.
Death-in-service benefits are valuable but should not be your only cover. They typically pay out 2 to 4 times your salary, which may not be enough for a family with a mortgage and children. You also lose the benefit if you change jobs, are made redundant, or become self-employed. A personal life insurance policy stays with you regardless of your employment situation and can be tailored to your family's actual needs.
The best time to take out family life insurance is as early as possible, ideally when you first have dependants or take on a mortgage. Premiums are based on your age and health at the time of application, so the younger and healthier you are, the cheaper it will be. Many families find that taking out cover in their late 20s or early 30s locks in very affordable premiums for the full policy term.
Your policy should last until your youngest child is financially independent. Most families choose a term of 20 to 25 years, which covers the period from birth through to university age. If you also have a mortgage, consider matching the policy term to your mortgage term. Some families add a few extra years as a buffer to ensure there are no gaps in cover.
Yes, writing your life insurance policy in trust is strongly recommended for families. It means the payout goes directly to your chosen beneficiaries (such as your partner or children) without going through probate, which can take months. It also keeps the payout outside your estate for inheritance tax purposes. Setting up a trust is free with most insurers and takes just a few minutes. Read our guide to life insurance in trust.
Yes, most pre-existing conditions do not prevent you from getting life insurance, although they may affect the premium or the terms of the policy. Common conditions such as asthma, diabetes, high blood pressure, and depression are covered by most insurers. Comparing the whole market is essential, as different insurers assess conditions differently. Some may offer standard rates where others would charge more.
If you die without life insurance, your family would need to cover all financial obligations from their own resources. This includes the mortgage, living expenses, childcare costs, and debts. Your partner may need to sell the family home, return to work full-time, or rely on savings and state benefits, which may not be sufficient to maintain your family's standard of living.
Yes, most insurers allow you to add critical illness cover to a term life insurance policy. This means the policy pays out if you are diagnosed with a specified serious illness (such as cancer, heart attack, or stroke) or if you die, whichever happens first. For families, this can be especially valuable because a critical illness can be just as financially devastating as a death, with potential loss of income and additional care costs. Read our guide to life insurance and critical illness cover.
The best family life insurance depends on your specific situation, including your age, health, number of dependants, income, and debts. Leading UK providers include Aviva, Vitality, Zurich, Royal London, and Legal & General. Comparing the whole market through an independent service is the most reliable way to find the best combination of cover, price, and policy features for your family.

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