Quick answer · Updated August 2026
SunLife currently pays the biggest over-50s sign-up gift: a £130 gift card after your 6th monthly payment (offer runs to 18 August 2026, per sunlife.co.uk). Post Office and British Seniors run periodic gift-card offers; Legal & General and Aviva currently offer none. Never pick a lifetime product for a one-off gift — a £130 card is ~6 months of typical premium, while the wrong plan can cost thousands over its life.
Current Offers (verified August 2026)
| Provider | Current gift | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| SunLife | £130 gift card | Sent within 30 days after 6th monthly payment; offer to 18 Aug 2026 |
| Post Office | Periodic gift-card offers | Varies — check at quote |
| British Seniors | Periodic offers | Varies — check at quote |
| Legal & General | None currently | — |
| Aviva | None currently | — |
| Royal London | None — ProfitShare instead | Mutual bonus can add to the payout itself |
Offers change frequently — always verify on the provider's site on the day you apply.
The Honest Maths on Gifts
A £130 gift equals about six months of a typical £20/month premium — while choosing a plan with a lower payout cap or worse cover-per-pound can cost your estate thousands. Rank plans on cover-per-pound and payout caps first (our comparison does this), then treat any gift as a tiebreaker. Royal London's approach is worth noting: instead of a gift, its mutual ProfitShare can add to the payout itself — usually worth more than a voucher over a plan's life.
Frequently Asked Questions
SunLife — a £130 gift card after your 6th monthly payment (current offer to 18 August 2026). It is also the market's best-known plan, though its £18,000 max cover sits below L&G and Aviva's £20,000.
The gift itself doesn't — the risk is letting it swing the decision. Cover-per-pound and payout caps differ far more between plans than any gift is worth.
Typically after a qualifying period — SunLife's arrives within 30 days of your 6th monthly payment. Cancel early and you won't qualify.