Short answer: If you are single with no kids and no dependants, you usually do not need UK life insurance. You may still want it to (1) cover a mortgage or shared rent, (2) cover funeral costs (~£4,141 UK average), or (3) lock in cheap premiums for when you do have dependants. For most childless single applicants, income protection is more important than life insurance.
For who: childless single working adults questioning whether they need cover.
Reviewed by: Ben Darke, lifecoverfor.com · Last updated: 2026-06-03
Reviewed by: Ben Darke, lifecoverfor.com · Last updated: 2026-06-03
Key facts (2026)
| UK average funeral cost (2025) | £4,141 (SunLife Cost of Dying Report) |
| When single applicants should still consider it | Joint mortgage, business loan guarantor, parents you support financially |
| Cheapest starter policy for under-30s | Beagle Street or Legal & General at £4–6/month for £100k |
| What you probably need instead | Income protection (60% salary if you can't work) + critical illness cover (lump sum if diagnosed) |
Sources
SunLife Cost of Dying Report 2025, lifecoverfor.com adviser panel.
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