Life insurance

We understand that making a claim can be a stressful process for your loved ones. We’ve worked with our partner, Legal & General, to help make it easier.

Once a claim is made, Legal & General will review it as quickly as possible. We might reach out if we need any documents, such as death certificates.

Once the claim has been processed, your loved ones will receive a single payout that they can use where necessary, whether that’s to pay off a mortgage or to cover expenses.

To get started, you’ll need to apply for a life insurance policy. Once your application is approved, you’ll need to pay monthly to stay covered.

If you die or become terminally ill during your policy, your loved ones can make a claim. If it’s approved, they’ll get a single cash payout to help them cover costs.

When your policy ends, you’ll no longer be covered. You’ll need to apply for a new one. Your new monthly price could be different depending on your age, health and the length of your policy.

Who can apply for life insurance?

You need to be a UK resident and be between 18 and 74 to apply.

To apply for a level life insurance policy with Critical Illness Cover, you need to be at least 18 and no older than 67. For Critical Illness Cover on a decreasing policy, you need to be at least 18 and no older than 64.

How much life insurance do I need?

This will depend on your individual circumstances. You might want to think about leaving a single payout to your dependants or helping to pay off a mortgage if you die. If you’d like more help, try our cover calculator.

Can I add Critical Illness Cover?

You can add Critical Illness Cover to your mortgage protection policy at an extra cost, which will cover you until you’re 75. You can do this in the Barclays app or with our mortgage advisers. 

To apply for a level life insurance policy with Critical Illness Cover, you need to be at least 18 and no older than 67. For Critical Illness Cover on a decreasing policy, you need to be at least 18 and no older than 64.

You can't add Critical Illness Cover to Simple Life Insurance.

Can I put my policy in trust?

Yes, putting your policy into trust can help make sure that the right people get paid if there’s a claim. It can help to reduce inheritance tax. Payouts are also generally faster when the policy is in trust. It’s a good idea to put your policy in trust from the beginning, but you can do this at any time.

For more information, read Legal & General’s trust information or call their helpdesk on 0370 010 4080. Lines are open Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 6pm and Saturday, 9am to 1pm.

Can I cancel my policy if I no longer need it?

You can cancel your policy at any time. If you cancel within 30 days of starting your policy, Legal & General will return any payments you’ve made. If you cancel after 30 days, you won’t get back any payments you’ve already made, but you won’t need to make any future payments.

To cancel your policy, log in to ‘My Account’ on the Legal & General website, or call them on 0370 010 4080. Lines are open Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 6pm and Saturday, 9am to 1pm.

How is the cost of life insurance calculated?

Legal & General can give you a quick quote based on multiple factors like your age, amount of cover, length of term, type of policy and whether you smoke. To finalise the price, they’ll ask more questions about your health and lifestyle. Your monthly cost could increase based on your answers. In some cases, they might need information from your doctor. When they have all the details, you’ll need to tell Legal & General when you want to start your policy – this can be the same start date as your mortgage.

What affects the cost of life insurance?

Factors such as your health, age and whether you smoke can affect the cost of your life insurance.

What happens if I move abroad?

If you move abroad during your policy, it might be affected. For more information, check the Barclays Simple Life Insurance policy booklet [PDF, 242KB] or the life insurance for mortgage protection policy booklet. [PDF, 231KB]