This article was published on 25 Aug 2025. At the time of publishing, this article was true and accurate, however, over time this may have changed. Some links may no longer work. If you have any concerns about this please contact us.

Please note, the information presented in thus article is for general guidance only and Officers/Staff should check with their Force HR team to confirm their exact entitlements.

Taking time off work to welcome a new child is an exciting chapter, but it can also bring financial changes. For police officers, staff, and their families, understanding how maternity or paternity leave affects your income – and planning for it – can help you enjoy the time without unnecessary money worries.

Whether you’re thinking ahead, about to start leave, or already off work, here’s what you need to know.

Maternity Leave for Police Officers and Staff

Police officers are entitled to up to 15 months’ maternity leave, with the first 26 weeks typically classed as ordinary maternity leave and the following 26 weeks as additional maternity leave. How much you’re paid depends on your length of service and your force’s specific policy, but it generally includes:

• Occupational maternity pay – often paid at full or half pay for a set period if you meet service requirements.
• Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) – currently paid for up to 39 weeks if you qualify.
• Unpaid leave – the remaining weeks of your entitlement may be unpaid.

Police staff have similar rights, though the exact pay structure and length of leave can vary by force policy.

Paternity Leave for Police Officers and Staff

Paternity leave is shorter – usually two weeks, which may be taken in a single block. If eligible, you’ll receive occupational paternity pay (often at full pay) for part or all of this time, followed by any statutory entitlement. Some parents may also consider Shared Parental Leave, which allows you to split time off more flexibly between parents.

Planning Ahead Financially

Because your income may reduce during maternity or paternity leave, it’s a good idea to start preparing early. Consider:

• Saving in advance – build a dedicated fund to cover essential bills during lower-income months.
• Reviewing your budget – plan for extra baby-related costs and reduced earnings.
• Checking your entitlements – confirm exactly what you’ll be paid and when.
• Exploring additional benefits – some forces offer childcare vouchers or salary sacrifice schemes.

You might find our Let’s Talk Life Events Guide helpful to read when preparing for this new chapter.

Support for Your Wellbeing

Adjusting to life with a new baby isn’t just about money – your wellbeing matters too. Our Wellbeing Hub offers free resources on everything from mental health to family life, while our Let’s Talk Money hub has practical tips to help you manage your finances with confidence.

The bottom line: maternity or paternity leave in the police is a valuable benefit, but it can mean a shift in your income. By planning ahead, building savings, and making the most of available resources, you can focus on what matters most – your growing family.

This article was published on Mon 18 Dec 2023. At the time of publishing, this article was true and accurate, however, over time this may have changed. Some links may no longer work. If you have any concerns about this please contact us

If you’ve ever had a question about life insurance – what it is, and how much it might cost – you’re in the right place. Most people feel and understand the need to protect their loved ones when they die. A life insurance policy could be one of the ways to do that.

How does life insurance work?

Simply put, life insurance is a financial product that helps you to leave behind money for your family if you die while covered. It isn’t a savings or investment product and has no cash in value at any time. It pays out if you die or are diagnosed with a terminal illness within the term of the policy. The money could then be used to support your family in a variety of ways. It can perhaps help to replace the regular income they’ll lose when you die, or could go towards paying off a large debt, such as your mortgage.

How much does life insurance cost?

There are many factors that go into calculating how much your life insurance will cost such as your age, health, weight and smoker status. How much you pay also depends on the type of life insurance you take out and how long you choose to take out cover for (for example, 25 years). This means that your life insurance payments can range from a surprisingly low amount, to quite a lot more depending on what you choose.

How do you claim?

The process is different for life insurance providers. But generally, they follow these steps:

1. The policy owner dies
2. The family, beneficiaries or legal representatives contact the insurance company
3. The insurance companies guide them through what is needed to pay out the money to the beneficiaries.

How long this takes depends on how straightforward the claim is.

What are the different types of life insurance?

There are various types of life insurance to choose from. If you’re applying directly with an insurance provider, it’s important to select the most suitable one for your circumstances. If you’re using a financial adviser, they can guide you through this process.

Need Advice? If you don’t already have a financial adviser, there are a number of directories that you can use to search for one in your area and according to their specialisms. Advisers may charge for their services – though they should agree any fees with you upfront. Whichever route you take, your age, health, lifestyle and how much cover you need will all determine how much you pay.

Level term life insurance cover

Level term insurance is probably the most common and the most straightforward type of life insurance. You can choose the amount you want to be insured for and how long you want the cover to last, and it’s designed to pay out if you die within the term of the plan. If you survive to the end of the policy term, the plan will end and you won’t receive anything back from it. The amount you’re covered for remains the same throughout the term.

To give an example, you might choose a level term life insurance policy at 20 years for £80,000. This would mean that if you died at any time during that 20-year term, your loved ones would receive £80,000 if there was a valid claim and the policy payments were up to date. It doesn’t matter if you die after the first year or in the last year of the policy. The pay-out would be the same.

Decreasing term life insurance cover

With decreasing term life insurance (also known as mortgage life insurance), the amount you’re covered for decreases over the term of your policy. Your monthly payments remain the same, so you know exactly what you are paying each month. Typically, these policies are used to cover a debt that reduces over time, such as a repayment mortgage.

Critical illness insurance

Critical illness cover can be sold on its own or as an optional extra alongside life insurance. It’s designed to help you and your family if you’re diagnosed with a critical illness listed in your policy documents. You can receive critical illness insurance as a lump sum or an income, depending on what you choose when you take the policy out.

If I’m single, do I need life insurance?

If you’re single, you may think you don’t need life insurance, but there are times when it’s a good idea. For example, by taking out a plan to cover the cost of your funeral, and reduce what could be a significant financial burden on your loved ones.

And, if you’re a single parent, your life insurance could help towards your children’s needs if you were no longer around. And, as they get older, a life insurance pay-out could help with university costs, or perhaps driving lessons or even money towards a deposit on their first home.

If I’m single with no children, what’s the point of taking out life insurance?

Life insurance can also be used to clear any outstanding debts you may have, regardless of your relationship status. You can also get life insurance that includes income protection or critical illness cover, which could give you financial support when you need it most.

Isn’t it better to set money aside for savings rather than buy life insurance?

Think of term life insurance as a practical addition of a wider financial plan. Cover typically starts immediately for the full value of the policy. So if, for example, you took out £80,000 cover, your family could receive that amount whilst the cover is in place.

Putting money aside for a rainy day is different. Most savings accounts could help with problems like fixing a broken-down boiler or car. It probably wouldn’t offer your family the same level of financial protection as life insurance would, in the event of your death.

Life insurance may be cheaper than you think. With prices starting as low as a few pounds each month, your family can be protected and have money to help them with bills and other living expenses in the event of your death.

Is it true that life insurance companies don’t like paying out to beneficiaries?

There is a misconception that insurance companies don’t pay out. In cases where they don’t, it’s usually due to irregularities at the point of application. This could be due to downplaying or omitting a medical condition, or premiums are not up to date, or a plan has expired.

Life insurance can provide some financial support to your loved ones if you pass away whilst covered. If you’re thinking about taking out a plan but not sure which one, you can discuss your options with an adviser before getting your policy.

I’m 50. Am I too old for life insurance?

The maximum age for buying life insurance can vary between insurers. Age limits can also depend on the type of insurance you’re looking for. Regardless of your age, there’s a good chance you’ll find a suitable life insurance plan – even if you think you are too old.

This article was published on Wed 13 Sep 2023. At the time of publishing, this article was true and accurate, however, over time this may have changed. Some links may no longer work. If you have any concerns about this please contact us

No one likes to think about a time after they’ve gone, but life insurance could offer reassurance and comfort for your loved ones if you die while covered, helping to ease any financial worries at a difficult time.

The cost of life insurance varies and this can mean many people don’t think about buying any at all, but this can be a mistake. It’s possible that your dependents or next of kin may become financially responsible for any outstanding debts or expenses like childcare costs, a mortgage, medical or care costs for elderly parents, or even to pay for your funeral. Even if you’ve been careful with your finances and have no outstanding debts, you may want to leave your loved ones a legacy towards their future.

There are different types of life insurance; some provide a fixed amount of cover for the whole term of the policy (the agreed length of time of your policy), while others slowly reduce the amount of cover over time. Often, you can combine buying a life insurance policy with critical illness insurance or serious illness benefit to cover you if you are diagnosed with a serious illness such as a heart attack or stroke. The list of illnesses and the definitions used varies between insurers so check what illnesses are covered before buying.

Here are five good reasons to have life cover:

1. It can be surprisingly affordable

Contrary to what most people imagine, life insurance can be an inexpensive way to protect you and your family. It can be even less than you think.

You can buy life insurance yourself without advice. You can buy it online, over the phone, or via a paper application. If you choose to buy it through a financial advisor, then expect to pay a fee. The extra cost of a financial advisor might be worth it in the future by helping you to reach a decision that works best for your situation.

2. It offers protection and peace of mind

With a policy in place, life insurance could pay out money to your loved ones when you die. They might use a payout from a life insurance policy to pay off an outstanding mortgage or cope with regular bills. If you have children, a partner or others who depend on you financially (such as an elderly relative), it can help make sure they’re taken care of if you die.

A life insurance pay out can be useful for loved ones after your death, because it will be a very difficult time, emotionally and financially. Having to worry about bills and debts while coping with the loss of a loved one is difficult, and a life insurance pay out can help to ease financial worries.

Also, some policies pay out early on the diagnosis of a terminal illness. This would enable you to spend time with loved ones without having the financial worry.

3. Different types of cover available

There are three main types of cover:

Level Term Life Insurance –
This offers a fixed amount of money, covering you over a fixed period of time that you pre-select.  If you die within the chosen time period, known as the ‘term’, the policy pays out a lump sum to your beneficiaries.

This gives you the certainty of knowing how much the pay-out will be. However, it won’t increase with inflation, so in the longer term it might be worth less against the rising cost of living.

Decreasing Term Life Insurance –
This is another type of fixed-term policy aimed at people whose financial commitments reduce over time – for example, if you’re repaying a mortgage. Decreasing term life insurance is a term life policy where the death benefit payout decreases during the time the policy is in place, so the payout gets smaller over time.

Whole of life insurance –
Also known as ‘life assurance’, is a  policy that lasts for the rest of your life and pays out if you die (as long as you’re kept up with monthly payments). This type of life insurance could offer you certainty that there’ll be a financial payment to your family, but can be more expensive than other options.

4. Support your children’s future

We all want to be there to help our children when they need it most, whether that’s supporting them through university, or buying their first car. But if you were to pass away before your children grow up, you can still help support them if you have life insurance in place.

5. You would need a lot of savings to get the equivalent payout amount

You could help the family save or invest to build up an emergency fund. However, most people don’t have enough surplus cash, or the time to build up the same amount of money that a life insurance policy could pay out. A relatively small monthly payment can give protection and could help the family with bills or debts.

You must remember though that life insurance has no cash-in value at any time, it’s a protection policy only. If you stop making payments your cover ends and you won’t get anything back.

This article was published on Tue 21 May 2019. At the time of publishing, this article was true and accurate, however, over time this may have changed. Some links may no longer work. If you have any concerns about this please contact us

Protect what matters most to you

We know how important it is to protect the things that matter most. What’s more, getting car and home insurance that is right for you with the right level of cover can be a minefield.

The car and home insurance market is one area where you really need to keep your eyes peeled. At Police Mutual we believe in making it easy for our members, providing great protection as standard with no hidden costs.

It’s important to remember when making a decision on your insurance sometimes you have to look behind the headline policy cost.

We take a different approach compared to many insurers in the marketplace. There’s no charge for the convenience of paying by monthly instalments or admin fees for making policy changes. Plus, to make it even easier for you to look after your prized possessions we pay the cancellation fee that might be charged by your current provider, up to the value of £125. This means you can change insurers before your current policy expires.

Understanding what matters to our customers

We know home, and family time spent at home is hugely important for everyone. Last year we commissioned a survey to find out what makes a house a home for the Police family, with the aim to better understand what matters.

When asked ‘Which items would you save if your home was on fire?’ responses ranged from:

• The Essentials – family, pets, photos, phones and computers;
• The Practicals – cash, bank card, car keys, contact lenses, important documents, passport and insulin pump;
• The Sentimentals – Grandfather’s First World War medals, photos of deceased family members, daughter’s cuddly toy rabbit; and
• The Matters to Me – bed, fridge and sofa, my password list, the books I’m writing, my financial paperwork, penguin shaped vase, piece of Elvis’ hair, (full) wine rack and action figure collectibles!

It’s really interesting, but not surprising, to see how much importance people put on their personal belongings and the contents of their home, from key pieces of furniture to electricals and technology. This ties into the claims data we see, which shows that the most frequent claims we receive relate to accidental damage to contents in the home and loss and damage to personal belongings.

Not surprisingly, the research demonstrated the huge range of items that people apply sentimental value to. We know we can’t bring back the sentimental value, however we can ensure that we are there to help our members when they really need us.

What we are most proud of is our friendly Liverpool team and the service we offer, making people want to stay with us as they know they are in safe hands.

Not only that it’s the little things we believe are important, doing more to help look after your car and home – we want to ensure our members get a better policy as standard without the need to take out multiple optional extras:

• Up to £500 in Home Emergency Cover as standard on our home insurance product, providing you with immediate assistance in the event of a domestic emergency.
• If you are buying a brand new car, we offer new car replacement cover as standard for the first 2 years of ownership.
• An extra £5,000 in contents cover around religious festivals such as Christmas.
• Cover when driving a courtesy car when your car is in for a service.
• Low compulsory excesses so you don’t get stung when it comes to claiming.
• Longer cover when driving abroad, with us you are covered for 6 months compared to 3 months with many competitors.

Terms and conditions apply.

It’s no wonder on average someone insures with Police Mutual every 4 minutes*

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Our car and home insurance is provided by Royal & Sun Alliance Insurance plc. PMGI Limited, trading as Police Mutual, is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered in England & Wales No. 1073408. Registered office: Alexandra House, Queen Street, Lichfield, Staffordshire, WS13 6QS. Calls to 0800 numbers are free from UK landlines and mobiles. For your security, all telephone calls are recorded and may be monitored.

*Calculation is based on 135,179 live policies which includes new business and renewals as at 3 May 2018