Life Insurance For Mums 2026 Prices

Elaine Brookes Steve Case

Author: Steve Case - Insurance Expert

Reviewed & Fact Checked By: Elaine Brookes

Updated: 27th April 2026

life insurance for mums

We understand that the well-being of your children is your top priority. That’s why thinking about life insurance can be both emotional and empowering.

Imagine knowing that, should the unexpected happen, your children’s lifestyle, home comforts, and even their future dreams, such as a university education, are secure.

Life insurance for Mums isn’t just a financial decision; it’s a parenting choice reflective of your love and foresight for your family.

Mum’s Life Insurance In Summary:

UK life insurance is priced on the individual, not on parental status. There’s no separate ‘mums’ product. This guide explains how standard UK life cover (term, whole-of-life, family income benefit, critical illness) can be used to protect what a mother provides for her family.

  • If you work and earn a steady income: Whether you’re the primary earner or contribute to the household finances, life insurance helps make sure your family is financially supported if you’re no longer around.
  • If you’re a single parent: As the sole provider, your income may be vital for your child’s day-to-day needs. Life insurance can help maintain stability if something unforeseen were to happen.
  • If you have a mortgage: A policy can cover outstanding mortgage payments, helping your family stay in their home without added financial pressure.

Mums, Help Protect Your Family’s Future · Compare Top Insurers

life insurance for mum

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life insurance for single mums

Which type of policy fits your current situation?

A repayment mortgage you want paid off if you die

Our recommendation would be a decreasing term plan, as the cover decreases with the mortgage balance and usually has a lower premium.

A lump sum payment so your family has more flexibility

In this situation, we would suggest a level term policy which offers fixed cover for a fixed term.

Steady monthly income for your family instead of a lump sum payment

Based on this requirement, we would likely recommend family income benefit cover.

Family Income Benefit is a type of life insurance policy specially designed for young families. It provides a monthly income to grieving families, providing much-needed support.

Protection for your whole life, with a guaranteed payout whenever you die

In this situation, a Whole-of-life plan is a popular choice. However, cover is usually more expensive and is often used for funeral plans or inheritance tax planning.

Cover if you survive but are seriously ill

In this scenario, Critical Illness Cover (add-on or standalone) might be your best option.

Critical illness cover is an insurance policy that pays a tax-free lump sum if you’re diagnosed with a specified serious condition (like cancer, stroke, or heart attack) during the policy term.

Either of these policy types can be combined. For advice on your specific situation, speak to an FCA-regulated adviser or request a call-back from one of our team members.

Alternatively, you could use MoneyHelper’s free service if you are looking for further information and are not yet ready to take out coverage.

Current Costs Of Cover Per Month

Below is an illustrative price comparison of a Mums term policy with a decreasing term insurance policy.
These are quotes for a £100,000 policy, cover 30 years, and are based on a healthy non-smoker.

Level Vs Decreasing Term Cover

Your Age*Level Term Life InsuranceDecreasing Term Life Insurance
20£4.56£4.71
25£5.26£4.98
30£5.83£5.09
35£7.91£6.04
40£10.39£7.56
45£16.32£11.82
50£27.81£18.10

Below is an example of a price comparison between single insurance policies and a joint policy. These quotations are based on a policy that provides £100,000 in cash sum coverage over 30 years for non-smokers in good health (no pre-existing conditions).

With a modest extra cost, a working mum can get income protection insurance with the same insurer, so household income is protected.

Life insurance experts like Insurance Hero can help you replace lost income to cover mortgage payments, up to your existing annual income.

Single Vs Joint Policies

Your AgeTwo Single Life PoliciesA Joint Life Policy
20£9.11£7.35
25£10.54£8.20
30£11.63£10.24
35£14.81£15.08
40£18.83£21.40
45£26.74£30.28
50£54.62£56.55

Below is an example of an insurance policy price comparison between a smoker and a non-smoker in good health. The quotes are based upon a £100,000.00 level term policy over 30 years.

Smoker Vs Non-Smoker

Your AgeSmoker Per Month CostNon-Smoker Per Month Cost
20£5.87£4.56
25£7.24£5.36
30£9.73£5.91
35£13.52£7.96
40£18.64£11.38
45£24.74£16.35
50£47.12£28.83

Premiums verified: 27th April 2026. Source: Aviva

mother and child

Mums Life Insurance Gives You Real Peace Of Mind

There is a chance your family could forfeit the rewards in life after your passing. Such as,
horse-riding lessons, swimming, football, or foreign holidays.

Comprehensive life insurance coverage protects your loved ones from unnecessary financial hardships.

Furthermore, you might require an insurance policy when buying a property. Many banks and building societies require it to give you a home mortgage.

Life Insurance For Single Mothers

Are you a new mum, a single mum, a stay-at-home mum, or the sole family breadwinner? If so, life insurance for a single mum is worth thinking about.

Optional children’s cover as well as critical illness cover. Chosen by 1000s of happy parents in the UK. Insurance Hero proudly offers some of the best life insurance for single mums without gimmicks and hidden extras.

best life insurance for mums

The Cost of Childcare Support

Whether you are a stay-at-home mum or work outside the home, you know how time-consuming childcare is.

A family with the terrible misfortune of losing its mum would have to pay at least £28,000 per year in childcare support to make up for the care she would have provided.

Losing a parent is a life-changing event for a child, let alone losing two.

It is hard to think about such things, but according to 2021 Child Bereavement Network data, in the UK, about 26,900 parents pass away each year while raising dependent children. This equates to roughly one parent every 20 minutes.

The pain of losing a parent cannot be erased quickly; only time can heal it. Fortunately, the financial implications of such a terrible loss need not be added to the already harrowing grief.

It is better to be prepared for such eventualities. Having your finances in place will provide much-needed relief to your partner.

Why Consider Life Insurance?

Simply, to take care of your family. To make sure they are taken care of if something happens to you.

If you purchase a whole of life insurance or term insurance and the payments are made each month, you will make sure that your family is provided for when you are no longer around.

Whole of life insurance for mums lasts for the whole of your life, and a term insurance policy lasts for a set amount of time, around 25 years.

Your family can put money towards the children’s future, but also alleviate the cost of paying professionals to do the work and any tasks you used to do as a mum.

Dealing with Life Insurance Changes after Divorce

Most breakups aren’t easy to deal with. They’re even more complicated when the relationship was steady for years and involved a home mortgage, joint finances, joint life insurance policies, children, and Wills.

It’s a lot for any parent to deal with, but it must be done.

When the dust settles, and you’re ready to separate your finances, you must know what you can and can’t do.

What you cannot do on a joint life insurance policy after you’ve separated is keep it. The only exception is if you have a “separation benefit”.

Without that, the policy needs to be either cancelled or amended. The best way to determine how to proceed is to compare the cost of starting a new policy with the cost of keeping the existing one in place with amendments.

life insurance for new mums

Changing your single mum life insurance policy may change the pricing

The insurance premiums will likely reflect that because a joint policy is being changed to a single policy.

It may drop in price because, theoretically, the insurer’s risk is halved when someone is removed from the policy. But then again, the insured’s income level will also differ.

Can you take out a single additional policy on your ex-husband or ex-wife?

To take out an affordable life insurance or critical illness cover policy on someone else, it is required that they have a financial association with you.

In the case of divorce, that may not be the case, but it will be if child maintenance payments are involved.

Taking out an insurance policy without your ex-spouse knowing about it won’t be possible. Secret policies don’t exist, nor can they, because insurers require consent to access medical records.

Other situations where taking out a life insurance for mum’s policy following a divorce or the dissolution of a civil partnership are when spousal maintenance payments (known in Scotland as a Periodical Allowance) are in place.

If an ex-spouse makes regular payments to you towards living expenses or a repayment mortgage, there would be a financial interest to ensure those payments with some type of life insurance policy.

life insurance for stay at home mum

The types of life insurance available when there is a financial interest

  • Cash lump sum term

If you receive child maintenance payments, it makes sense to insure their value until they stop when the child turns 16 or 18.

For any spousal maintenance or periodical allowance payments being made, the term for which the insurance payments are awarded, such as three years, may be more appropriate.

  • Family Income Benefit

Instead of a lump sum paid by an insurer, as with a term life policy, a family income benefit policy would continue to pay a fixed monthly amount until the child reaches 16 or 18 years of age.

Changing the beneficiary on your policy

Irrespective of what your Will says, the beneficiary named on your life insurance policy is the person whose monies are paid, so if that’s your ex and you no longer want that to be the case, you’ll need to contact your insurance provider to have the named beneficiary changed.

Do you need to change your Will as well?

When a Will registered in England is in place, you have a couple of options. You can either change your entire Will or add what’s called a Codicil.

This can be used to make minor changes to your existing Will, such as amending policy beneficiaries, although it can also be used to change the executor of your Will. Significant changes are often best done by writing a new Will.

why mums need life insurance infographic

Mums Life Insurance Financial Support Key Points:

  • Mums are often the primary caregivers in a family, so their life insurance needs should be considered.
  • Life insurance can provide financial security for your family in the event of your death. Your loved ones can access policy funds to cover funeral expenses, debts, and other financial obligations.
  • Many employers offer group life insurance plans, which can be an affordable option for mums who want to purchase a policy but don’t have the resources or time to shop around for individual plans.
  • Same sex couples are fine, and separate policies are not necessary. The surviving partner can pay the outstanding balance of the home mortgage.
  • You may need some help calculating the life insurance cover amount. But you must only buy life insurance you need.
  • Some UK insurers offer free parent life cover plans, typically giving parents of young children £15,000 of coverage for 12 months at no cost. This is subject to eligibility. Aviva’s Free Parent Life Cover is one example. This is not a substitute for a full policy. Verified by Insurance Hero: 26/04/2026.
life insurance policy for mum

Related Reading: Depending on Your Personal Circumstances:

Benefits of Writing Your Life Insurance into Trust

Understanding Family Income Benefits

Which Single Mum Life Cover Is Right For You And Your Financial Concerns?

It is beautiful to leave a legacy behind. Every mother wishes to care for her family forever, but this is not always possible.

A women’s life insurance, 50s life insurance, decreasing term insurance, level term life insurance or mums critical illness cover policy allows you to leave your family with one less burden, less stress, and the capacity to live happily, even if you are gone or suffer a terminal illness.

Try our mum’s life insurance calculator to get a comparative insurance quote.

With free, no-obligation life insurance quotes from Insurance Hero, you can start a search and check out your options and how much life insurance you might need.

Our free service can help explain which level of insurance coverage is most appropriate for your circumstances.

reasons to consider life insurance cover

Life Insurance For Single Mums: What Are Your Options?

In the UK, single mums, including those on benefits, have several life insurance options. These are designed to provide financial security for their families in the event of their passing.

  1. Term Life Insurance: This is the most common and affordable type of life insurance. It provides coverage for a specific period, such as 10, 20, or 30 years. If the policyholder dies during this term, a death benefit is paid to the policy beneficiaries.
  2. Whole Life Insurance: This type of policy offers coverage for the policyholder’s entire life as long as insurance premiums are paid. It also accumulates cash value over time, which can be borrowed against or used to pay premiums.
  3. Family Income Benefit: This type of term insurance that, instead of paying out a lump sum, provides a regular income to the beneficiaries for the remainder of the term. This can be particularly useful for young families, ensuring a steady income stream. This is the right life insurance policy for many families.
  4. Critical Illness Cover: Often available as an option with life insurance policies, this cover provides a lump-sum payment if the policyholder is diagnosed with a specified critical illness. This can be crucial for single mothers or primary caregivers.
  5. Mortgage Life Insurance: This policy pays off a repayment mortgage in the event of the policyholder’s death, ensuring the family home is not lost. This is very cost-effective financial protection.

These life insurance options are available at competitive premiums, and policy costs can vary based on factors such as age, health, and lifestyle.

It’s important for mums, especially those on benefits, to compare different policies and providers to find the most suitable and affordable coverage for their needs.

Additionally, some insurance policies offer non-discriminatory quotes for smokers and vapers, and there are special deals and considerations for younger and stay-at-home mums.

Life insurance for mums in the UK is not just about providing financial support in the event of death; it’s also about ensuring that the family can maintain their lifestyle, cover children’s education, and manage any outstanding debts or mortgages without financial strain.

life insurance for mums uk

The Benefits Of Young Mum Life Insurance Coverage

Financial Security for Children

Ensures that in the event of the mother’s untimely passing, her children will have financial support for their upbringing and education.

Debt Protection

Helps cover any outstanding debts or mortgages, preventing financial burdens from being passed on to the family.

Income Replacement

provides a financial safety net to maintain the family’s standard of living, especially if the young mum is the primary or sole breadwinner.

Affordability

Life insurance premiums are generally lower for younger individuals, making it a cost-effective option for young mums to secure their family’s future.

Can you get life insurance for mums with a free gift?

It’s not uncommon for insurance providers to offer promotional incentives, such as free gifts, to attract new customers.

These policies might include vouchers, cashback, or other bonuses. Mums looking for life insurance should research and compare different policies and providers, paying attention to the terms and conditions of any free gift offers to ensure they align with their insurance needs and expectations.

We have a detailed guide on life insurance with free gifts that you might find interesting.

Life Insurance For Pregnant Mums

Obtaining life insurance during pregnancy is entirely possible. The fact that you are expecting a child does not influence your ability to secure an insurance policy or the price of your monthly payments.

It’s feasible to initiate a policy at any stage of pregnancy. This will ensure the financial security of your expanding family and provide peace of mind regarding their economic well-being.

life insurance for mums on benefits

Case Studies

Case Study 1: Sarah M, the Working Single Mother

Sarah is a 35-year-old single mother living in Manchester, UK. She works full-time as a nurse and is the sole provider for her two children, aged 7 and 10.

She had been considering life insurance for a while, but the demands of her job and her busy family life kept pushing it back. However, after a health scare, she decided it was time to take action.

Sarah took out a term life insurance policy with us in 2025 to provide coverage until her youngest child turned 25. The policy was affordable and fit into her tight budget.

She chose a life insurance policy for working mums that would pay out a lump sum sufficient to cover her mortgage, her children’s future education costs, and provide a financial cushion for them.

The benefits for Sarah and her family were immediate. She felt relieved knowing that if anything happened to her, her children would be financially secure.

She knew the policy payout would cover the mortgage, ensuring her children always had a home. It also meant that her children’s education would be covered, allowing them to pursue their dreams without the burden of student loans.

[Verified with customer consent, February 2026]

Learn more about critical cover for mums.

FAQs

Do mums need life insurance?

Mums can benefit from life insurance because they are more likely to have a family to care for and to be stay-at-home parents.

Is mums life insurance expensive?

No, insurance is not necessarily expensive. An individual’s life insurance premium depends on age, health, risk, and family history.

You must compare costs between insurers to find the one with the best value. It could be cheaper than a joint life insurance policy. The best time to buy life insurance is as early in life as possible.

How do I work out the cover amount?

You must consider your children’s ages, the size of your mortgage or rent bill, household expenses, and other child-related expenses, including private school fees and leisure activities.

I am fearful of medical underwriting and the associated costs?

If you have a problematic medical history or pre-existing medical conditions, you can expect your monthly instalments to be higher.

However, it’s smoking that puts up people’s rates, not a previous medical issue that has been resolved.

Research references for separate policies and joint cover options: