Life Insurance · UK Guide 2026

Why do life insurers decline claims?

Q: What is the most common reason a life insurance claim is declined?

Misrepresentation or non-disclosure, meaning health or lifestyle information that was inaccurate or left off the application. Underwriters treat details such as smoking, weight, medication and medical history as material facts, so getting them right at application is what keeps a claim payable.

The reassuring headline first: the overwhelming majority of UK life insurance claims are paid — around 98% in 2025, according to Association of British Insurers figures. When a claim is turned down, it is almost always for one avoidable reason: something on the application was not disclosed accurately. Here are the real reasons claims are declined, and how to make sure yours pays.

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Quick answer

Why are life insurance claims declined in the UK?

Most claims are paid. Around 98% of UK life insurance claims were paid in 2025 (ABI), so a decline is the exception, not the rule.
Non-disclosure is the number-one reason. The leading cause of a declined claim is health or lifestyle information that was misrepresented or left off the application.
Other reasons are narrower: a claim that falls within a policy exclusion, a death inside the first-year exclusion period, a policy that had lapsed for unpaid premiums, or, very rarely, fraud.
Nearly all of it is avoidable. An honest, complete application and premiums kept up to date are what keep a policy valid at claim time.

The reasons

Why a life insurance claim can be declined — and how to reduce the risk

Reason	How common	How to reduce the risk
Non-disclosure or misrepresentation of health or lifestyle	Most common reason for a decline	Answer every application question fully and honestly — including weight, smoking, alcohol, medication and family history
The claim falls within a policy exclusion	Occasional	Read the exclusions before you buy; check terms on hazardous pursuits and any excluded conditions
Death within the first-year exclusion period (e.g. the suicide clause)	Rare	Understand the first-year terms and avoid a gap in cover when switching policies
The policy had lapsed for missed premiums	Occasional	Keep premiums up to date; use a reliable payment method and act quickly on any missed-payment letter
The event is not what the policy covers	Occasional	Check exactly what is covered — for example, a critical-illness condition must match the policy’s definitions
Fraud or a deliberately false claim	Very rare	Not applicable — honesty on the application and at claim is the whole point

Indicative of how UK insurers commonly handle claims, drawing on ABI protection statistics — the exact proportions, wording and outcomes vary between providers and change over time. This is general information, not a quote, and not the terms of any specific policy; always read your own policy documents.

The main reason

Non-disclosure: the leading cause of a declined claim

When the ABI and individual insurers report on why claims are declined, one reason sits at the top nearly every year: misrepresentation — health and lifestyle information that was inaccurate or left off the application. This is rarely deliberate. More often it is an honest slip: forgetting a past investigation, rounding down the number of cigarettes, or assuming a condition was too minor to mention. To an underwriter, though, those details are material facts that affect whether cover is offered and at what price.

How an insurer must respond is set by the Consumer Insurance (Disclosure and Representations) Act 2012. It replaced the old duty to volunteer everything with a duty to take reasonable care not to make a misrepresentation when answering the questions asked. The remedy is proportionate to what happened: an honest and reasonable mistake cannot be used to decline a claim; a careless misrepresentation means the insurer does what it would have done had it known — often paying a reduced amount; and only a deliberate or reckless misrepresentation allows the claim to be refused outright and the policy voided. If you are buying now, our guide on life insurance with pre-existing conditions and the life insurance hub explain how to disclose properly.

The other reasons

Exclusions, lapses and timing

Beyond disclosure, a handful of narrower reasons account for most remaining declines. Policy exclusions carve out specific risks — some policies exclude certain hazardous activities or a named pre-existing condition, so a claim tied to that risk will not be paid. A lapsed policy is another: if premiums stop and the grace period passes, cover ends, and a claim afterwards has nothing to pay against. Timing matters too — a death within the first-year suicide exclusion period is the classic example, and switching cover restarts that clock.

It also helps to claim against the right kind of cover. Life insurance pays on death; critical illness cover pays only for conditions that meet the policy’s specific definitions, which is a common source of confusion. Finally, fraud — a deliberately false claim or application — will always void a policy, but genuine fraud is very rare. Making sure you hold the right amount and type of cover in the first place is half the battle; our guide on how much life insurance you need can help.

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Getting a claim paid

How to make sure your claim pays — and what to do if it is declined

The single most reliable way to protect a future claim is an honest, complete application. Take time over the health and lifestyle questions, tell the insurer if anything changes before cover starts, and keep a copy of what you declared. Keep premiums up to date, and consider writing the policy in trust so the payout reaches the right people quickly. Letting your family know the policy exists means it is actually claimed — unclaimed policies are more common than declined ones.

If a claim is declined and you believe that is wrong, you have a clear route. Complain to the insurer first and ask for its final response in writing. If you are still unhappy, you can take the case to the Financial Ombudsman Service — a free, independent service — usually within six months of that final response. The Ombudsman can and does overturn declined protection claims where an insurer has not applied the rules fairly.

Common questions

Declined life insurance claims: FAQs

How often are UK life insurance claims declined?

Rarely. Around 98% of UK life insurance claims were paid in 2025, according to Association of British Insurers figures, so only a small minority are declined. When one is, non-disclosure on the application is the most common reason.

What is the most common reason a life insurance claim is declined?

Misrepresentation or non-disclosure — health or lifestyle information that was inaccurate or left off the application. Underwriters treat details such as smoking, weight, medication and medical history as material facts, so getting them right at application is what keeps a claim payable.

Can an insurer refuse to pay if I made an innocent mistake?

Under the Consumer Insurance (Disclosure and Representations) Act 2012, an honest and reasonable mistake cannot be used to decline a claim. A careless error usually means the insurer pays what it would have offered had it known — often a reduced amount — and only a deliberate or reckless misrepresentation allows a claim to be refused and the policy voided.

Do life insurance claims get declined for pre-existing conditions?

Only if the condition was not disclosed or is specifically excluded in the policy. A pre-existing condition you declared and that the insurer accepted is covered as normal. The problem arises when it is left off the application, which counts as non-disclosure.

Will my claim be declined if I missed a premium?

Not immediately. Policies include a short grace period after a missed premium, and cover can often be reinstated if you catch up quickly. But if premiums stop and the policy lapses, cover ends — and a claim made after that has no valid policy to pay against.

Can I challenge a declined life insurance claim?

Yes. Complain to the insurer first and ask for its final response in writing. If you remain unhappy, you can refer the case to the Financial Ombudsman Service — a free, independent service — usually within six months of the final response. It can overturn a decline where the insurer has not acted fairly.

How can I make sure my life insurance pays out?

Complete the application honestly and in full, tell the insurer if anything changes before cover starts, and keep premiums up to date. Writing the policy in trust helps the money reach the right people, and making sure your family knows the policy exists means it is actually claimed.

Information only — not financial advice and not a recommendation of any insurer or product. The claim outcomes, statistics and rules described here are typical of UK policies and current at the time of writing but vary between insurers and change over time; they are indicative, not a quote, and not the terms of any specific policy. Always read your own policy documents and check the insurer’s current terms. My Insurance Expert is not an FCA-authorised intermediary and does not arrange or sell policies. Last updated: 2026-08-29

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