Karen
45, divorced, sole earner with two teenagers. The safety net is her income, and that's it
Snapshot
| Age | 45 |
| Family | Divorced, two children aged 13 and 11, full custody |
| Job | Senior administrator at NHS Trust |
| Gross income | £35,000 + £600/month child maintenance (irregular) |
| Home | £285,000, mortgage £142,000, 14 years remaining |
| Mortgage payment | £960 per month |
| Savings | £7,500 |
What Karen has today
- NHS sick pay: 1 month full, 1 month half, then SSP. Varies by length of service.
- No critical illness through employer.
- No income protection through employer.
- NHS death-in-service: 2x pensionable pay plus children's survivor's pension to age 23 if in education.
- Ex-husband pays £600/month child maintenance, court-ordered but historically irregular.
The gap
- Sole earner for two dependent children. No second adult to step in financially if she is ill.
- NHS sick pay runs out in 8-12 weeks for shorter service, then SSP. Mortgage becomes unaffordable inside 3 months.
- If Karen dies, NHS death benefits help, but ongoing income relies on her ex-husband's maintenance which is unreliable.
- Children are 13 and 11. Financial dependency goes to at least 18 and likely 22 if they go to university.
Recommended cover, built in three tiers
| Tier | What it includes | Indicative /month |
|---|---|---|
| Basic | Life cover £200,000 level term 14 years (until both children are independent) plus funeral cover £8,000. | £22-28 |
| Enhanced | Adds Income Protection £1,600 per month, 8-week waiting period to align with NHS sick pay, ceasing at 65. | £55-72 |
| Comprehensive | Adds Critical Illness Cover £75,000 plus Family Income Benefit £1,800/month for 12 years. | £105-130 |
Cumulative build. Each tier adds to the previous, not a flat choice. These are example structures. Your adviser will tailor cover to your budget, health, family and mortgage needs. Premiums indicative for a non-smoker in good health, subject to medical underwriting.
The case
Karen carries everything. Two kids depending on her, no partner to step in if she is ill, irregular child maintenance, NHS pay that does not quite stretch.
Single parents are the demographic that most needs protection and least often buys it, usually because they are financially stretched. The maths says the opposite. Their household has the lowest redundancy of any family structure. If the one earner stops earning, there is no second earner.
Family Income Benefit matters disproportionately here. £1,800 a month for 12 years is more useful for a single-parent household than a lump sum. It replicates what families actually need: stable monthly money for the kids' growing-up years.
Common questions
I just can't fit it in the budget.
Basic tier is around £25 per month. That is £5 a week. Versus the alternative of no plan for the kids if you cannot work.
My ex would help if anything happened.
He would probably want to. He is not legally obligated beyond child maintenance and there is no guarantee he would absorb the mortgage or step in to cover all the household costs.
Won't my pension protect me?
Pension does not pay out until retirement. It does nothing if you are 45 and cannot work for 20 years. NHS death-in-service helps the kids if you die, but does nothing if you are seriously ill.
Major Money Matters Ltd is an appointed representative of Sesame Ltd.
Your situation will be different
Every scenario on this site is illustrative. Your actual cover depends on your income, family, mortgage, health and goals. The only way to know what fits is to talk to an adviser.
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