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Look after what matters

Protection for life, income & property

Life cover, critical illness, income protection and property insurance. Begin with the people who depend on you, your commitments and the benefits you already have.

Discuss my protection ↗Explore services ↓

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Felt illustration of Jack at work
A protection conversation, made personal

What matters
in your world?

Explore a priority and add questions to your review agenda. This is preparation for a conversation, not a cover recommendation.

Felt illustration of Jack discussing protection with a family
People. Income. Property. Business.Your priorities come first.
The people I love

Who relies on you?

Think about the people who depend on your income, care or financial support, and the commitments that would continue.

A fictional worked example

A mortgage balance is only part of a family’s story.

Two parents have a repayment mortgage and a young child. They want to explore what the surviving household would need if either parent died, including replacing unpaid care.

Mortgage remaining
£260,000
Family spending gap
£1,200 / month

The monthly gap is an invented estimate after other income and after the mortgage has been cleared. It excludes the mortgage payment, so the debt is not counted twice.

Explore the decisions behind this example
Clear a debt
Decreasing life cover reduces over time; level cover keeps the insured amount fixed. Compare the policy’s reduction pattern and term with the actual repayment mortgage.
Support the household
Food, childcare and bills can continue after the mortgage is cleared. Discuss a separate family budget, the period of dependency and who would receive the money.
Compare the compromise
A fixed budget may mean choosing between benefit amounts, terms and features. Ask what would remain uncovered under each option, including loss of unpaid care.
Start with what is already in place

Bring the policy schedule and employer benefit statement. Check who is insured, how much remains, when it ends, who receives a claim and whether a joint policy ends after its first claim. Employer cover can change when a job ends.

Useful documents: Current mortgage statement; household budget; policy schedules; employer death-in-service details.

Read the basis: MoneyHelper: life insurance ↗

Questions to take to your review
Life insurance Family income benefit Critical illness cover
My income

What keeps everyday life moving?

A period away from work affects more than the mortgage. Start with your essential spending, sick pay and the benefits or policies already in place.

A fictional worked example

What happens after the sick pay stops?

An employee is reviewing the period after their employer’s full sick pay ends. Their household still has another source of income and some savings available for emergencies.

Essential spending
£2,400 / month
Other income
£900 / month
Illustrative shortfall
£1,500 / month
Available savings
£6,000 ≈ 4 months

£2,400 − £900 = £1,500; £6,000 ÷ £1,500 = four months. This simple example starts after sick pay ends, assumes unchanged spending and excludes interest, inflation, state benefits and unexpected costs. It is not an insurable benefit calculation.

Explore the decisions behind this example
Bridge the waiting period
The deferred period is the wait before a qualifying income-protection claim pays. A longer wait may reduce the premium, but the household must fund that gap.
Read the work definition
“Own occupation”, “suited occupation” and “any occupation” describe different tests of inability to work. Check which test applies, benefit limits and the maximum payment period.
Separate a lump sum
Critical illness cover depends on a listed condition meeting the policy’s definition and severity requirements. A diagnosis or time off work alone does not establish a valid claim.
Start with what is already in place

Ask for the employer’s actual sick-pay timetable and any group income-protection terms. Check how other income, benefits and existing policies affect payments. Keep savings already committed to other costs separate.

Useful documents: Sick-pay policy; recent income records; essential-spending budget; existing policy wording.

Read the basis: MoneyHelper: income protection ↗

Questions to take to your review
Income protection Self-employed income protection Protection for athletes
My home & property

What does the property need?

The building, its contents, the way it is occupied and the responsibilities in the mortgage or lease all belong in the review.

A fictional worked example

The price you paid is not the rebuilding figure.

A homeowner paid £350,000 for a house and is planning an extension. Their current schedule records a £240,000 rebuilding amount, which has not yet been checked against the proposed work.

Purchase price
£350,000
Current rebuild amount
£240,000

Both figures are fictional. Their difference does not establish underinsurance or the correct sum insured. A current rebuilding assessment and the policy basis are needed.

Explore the decisions behind this example
Rebuild the structure
Buildings cover concerns the structure and insured fixtures. Check the rebuilding basis, limits, excesses and relevant exclusions; market value is a different measure.
Replace belongings
Contents needs its own inventory and replacement values. Check valuable-item limits and whether belongings away from home are included.
Explain the actual use
Tell the insurer about proposed work and changes in occupancy or letting. Ask what agreement or different cover is needed before relying on the existing policy.
Start with what is already in place

Check the schedule, wording and endorsements together. For a flat, establish who arranges the block buildings policy and what you must insure yourself. A lower premium can come with a higher excess or narrower cover.

Useful documents: Policy schedule and endorsements; rebuilding assessment; contents inventory; lease or planned-works details.

Read the basis: MoneyHelper: buildings insurance ↗

Questions to take to your review
Buildings & contents Landlord insurance Property surveys
My business

Who keeps the business running?

Key people, ownership and obligations can create different protection needs. Bring existing benefits and the relevant professional advisers into the conversation.

A fictional worked example

One business. Three different calls on its cash.

Two equal shareholders run a small company. One leads sales. They want to understand the consequences of losing that person while a business loan and ongoing costs remain.

Outstanding business debt
£150,000
Continuing costs
£12,000 / month

Three months of the fictional continuing costs would be £36,000. This is only a cash-flow illustration, not a valuation, lost-profit estimate, suitable cover amount or prediction of recovery time.

Explore the decisions behind this example
Meet borrowing obligations
Business loan protection addresses specified borrowing following an insured event. Review the loan agreement, who owes the money and any personal guarantees.
Keep trading
Key person protection addresses the financial effect of losing an important person. The business needs evidence of that impact; debt repayment alone may not fund continuity.
Deal with ownership
Shareholder protection can support a share purchase following an insured event. The policy, valuation and legal agreement must work together. It is a separate purpose from replacing revenue.
Start with what is already in place

Map the owner, payer, insured person and intended recipient of each existing policy. Avoid counting the same payout for debt, working capital and a share purchase. Ask the accountant and solicitor to review tax and legal treatment.

Useful documents: Accounts and cash-flow forecast; borrowing documents; shareholder agreement; policy schedules.

Read the basis: Legal & General: business protection — provider example ↗

Questions to take to your review
Key person cover Shareholder protection Relevant life insurance
Your conversation starter

Choose the questions you want to discuss.

Nothing here is saved or sent automatically. Leave out medical and other sensitive details.

Discuss my priorities on WhatsApp ↗

Existing cover, affordability, exclusions, eligibility and underwriting need an individual review. Mortgage and protection advice is provided through Mortgage Force (UK) Ltd. Looking for the cover-gap calculator?

About these examples and sources

The people, figures and business situations above are fictional teaching examples, not client stories or policy recommendations. Different policy wordings, underwriting decisions and affordability needs can change the choices.

Reviewed 13 October 2026 against the linked MoneyHelper guidance and Legal & General’s description of its business products. The latter illustrates a provider’s approach; other contracts differ. The income example also draws on MoneyHelper’s critical illness guide; property checks draw on its buildings policy checklist.

Keep existing cover in place while reviewing options. Do not cancel it before any replacement is fully set up, its terms are understood and its first premium has been paid. Ask for a clear comparison of any benefits you would lose.

Four different jobs

Understand what each type of cover is there to do

Begin with the financial problem you want to solve. These types of cover are not interchangeable, and having one does not automatically remove the need to consider the others.

Life insurance

A lump sum can help with debts or longer-term family needs.

When could it pay, and what should I check?

A financial payment after death during the insured term, subject to the policy. Compare: Term, benefit shape, ownership and who receives the payment.

Explore life insurance →

Critical illness cover

Usually a lump sum to help with a period of adjustment.

When could it pay, and what should I check?

A specified illness or injury that meets the contract’s definition and severity requirements. Compare: Covered definitions, exclusions and what remains after a claim.

Explore critical illness cover →

Income protection

Regular payments replacing part of eligible earnings.

When could it pay, and what should I check?

Illness or injury that prevents work under the policy’s incapacity definition. Compare: Waiting period, occupation test, benefit limit and payment duration.

Explore income protection →

Family income benefit

Regular support for the remaining policy term.

When could it pay, and what should I check?

A valid death claim within the insured term. Compare: The monthly amount, end date and whether benefits can increase.

Explore family income benefit →

Start with what you already have. Gather employer benefits, personal policies and accessible savings. Then separate the costs you would clear once from the spending that would continue each month.

Sources & further reading

Checked 13 October 2026. The questions and preparation prompts above are Jack’s editorial guidance. The links explain the underlying insurance concepts. Insurer material is an example, not a recommendation or a description of every policy.

Your household buffer

If income stopped, what would need covering?

Set a scenario for a particular month after illness or injury stops work. Re-run it when sick pay or other reliable income changes.

The starting figures are editable examples. Your inputs stay on this page and are not sent or deliberately saved.

To work it through without the calculator: subtract continuing monthly income from essential spending, then divide available savings by any shortfall.

How this illustration works

This is a simple financial-buffer illustration, not an insurance benefit calculation. It assumes spending and continuing income stay constant, and ignores inflation, savings interest and unexpected costs. It does not assess policy eligibility, taxation or benefits. Check the actual sick-pay schedule and policy terms.

Find your starting point

Services, clearly organised.

Open the group closest to your plans, then choose a service for the detail and next steps.

Family, life and income protection

People and incomeFamily, life and income protectionConsider who depends on you, the commitments that continue and the cover or employer benefits already in place.View 5 services

Buildings, contents and landlord cover

Home and propertyBuildings, contents and landlord coverThe property, its actual use and the responsibilities under the mortgage, lease or tenancy shape the cover questions.View 2 services

Company owners, key people, shareholders and athletes

Business and specialist occupationsCompany owners, key people, shareholders and athletesOwnership, policy purpose, existing benefits and linked legal or accounting work all need to be clear.View 4 services
Business and athlete protection can require specialist advice or referral. The appropriate route and availability are established before any recommendation.
Your protection journey

From the first conversation to a plan you can keep using

Open each stage to see what happens, what you bring and the decision to make. This is a typical personal-protection route; medical-insurance introductions and specialist business or athlete cover have their own scope and assessment.

01 · Understand your priorities

Bring a simple picture of dependants, household commitments, debts and budget. You can explain what matters without sending medical details through the website.

  • You decide: the people and commitments you want to protect.
  • Checkpoint: a clear purpose and affordable budget for the discussion.
02 · Map the existing safety net

Review current schedules, employer benefits and savings. Identify what each payment is intended to do and when it would stop.

  • You bring: actual policy and benefit documents.
  • Checkpoint: potential gaps are separated from cover already in place.
03 · Compare an appropriate plan

The relevant adviser explains suitable options within their scope, including definitions, exclusions, costs and any specialist referral. A website illustration is not a personal recommendation.

  • You consider: the trade-offs as well as the premium.
  • Checkpoint: understand the recommendation and any need left uncovered.
04 · Complete the insurer’s assessment

Answer the questions accurately and ask for clarification where needed. Health, occupation and financial information should use the agreed secure process. The insurer may request more evidence or offer different terms.

  • You check: the recorded answers and any changes requested before cover begins.
  • Checkpoint: review the actual underwriting outcome, not only the original quote.
05 · Confirm cover is in place

Check the start date, premium, insured benefits and policy documents. Resolve beneficiary or trust questions with the appropriate adviser. Do not cancel existing cover while a replacement is still being arranged.

  • You keep: the final schedule, wording and contact details.
  • Checkpoint: the intended cover is active and its terms are understood.
06 · Review when life changes

A new home, child, job, business interest or changed budget is a prompt to revisit the plan. If an event may be covered, contact the insurer and ask what information it needs.

  • You flag: changes in needs and anything the policy requires you to report.
  • Checkpoint: review the remaining need and use the insurer’s claims process when appropriate.

One useful first step

Bring one recent policy schedule and your employer’s benefits summary. If you have neither, start with the monthly costs you would want to keep covered.

Start a protection conversation → · Review your employer benefits

Sources & further reading

Checked 13 October 2026. The questions and preparation prompts above are Jack’s editorial guidance. The links explain the underlying insurance concepts.

A situation like yours?

Detailed illustrative scenarios to help you prepare. These are not completed cases or offers of finance.

Explore all 38 detailed scenarios ↗

Prepare your next conversation

Practical planning checklists

Focused questions and preparation steps for your next decision.

Protection planning

Income protection: plan the waiting period

Connect sick pay, accessible savings and essential spending before comparing income-protection options.

Read the checklist Protection planning

Employer benefits: prepare your protection review

Bring your workplace benefits and existing policies together so your protection conversation starts with what is actually in place.

Read the checklist Protection planning

Making a protection claim: your practical checklist

A calm starting point for a life, critical illness or income protection claim: find the right insurer contact, organise the evidence and understand what to do if a decision is unclear.

Read the checklist Protection planning

Protection underwriting: understand the insurer’s decision

What a request for evidence, higher premium, exclusion, postponed decision or declined application means for your next conversation about life, critical illness or income protection cover.

Read the checklist

Let’s make your next move clearer.

Tell me what you want to do. I’ll help you understand the next step.

Start a conversation ↗
Practical answers

Managing your cover.

Can I cancel cover, or ask for help if premiums become difficult?

Read the cancellation notice in your policy documents and use the insurer’s stated process. Consumer pure-protection policies generally have a 30-day cancellation period; many other insurance contracts have 14 days, with exceptions and different start-date rules. If cost is the problem, speak to the insurer before cancelling or missing a payment. Ask what changes are possible and what cover you would lose. Keep existing cover until any replacement is confirmed and checked.

Sources checked 14 October 2026: FCA: insurance cancellation rights ↗ · MoneyHelper: life insurance and managing premiums ↗.

How do I start an insurance claim?

Use the claims contact in your policy documents and notify the insurer promptly. Have the policy details available and ask what evidence, deadlines and updates apply to your claim. Medical or identity information should go through the insurer’s agreed secure route. The insurer assesses the claim against the policy terms; a website enquiry is not a claim notification.

Sources checked 14 October 2026: Legal & General: making a claim (one insurer’s process) ↗.