Beneficiary nomination FAQs

No, the nomination can only be done as part of the initial submission of the application. To add nominated beneficiaries at this stage you'd need to complete a new application

It would provide the same IHT protection in the event of death, however any terminal illness claims would be paid to the plan owner and would form part of the taxable estate on death.

Yes. You can apply for any combination of covers on the people covered. As long as each person is the sole owner of their own cover, they can each nominate their own beneficiaries.

Yes, and there's no complicated paperwork to complete to remove or change their nominated beneficiaries.

If there is no trust or nominated beneficiary the payment of the plan may be delayed while probate is obtained. The payment will then be made to the personal representatives not direct to the lender. It could therefore be several months before the mortgage can be repaid.  Writing the plan in trust or nominating a beneficiary means the claim can be paid without probate so cash can be made available to repay the loan much quicker.

If they are each taking out their own cover then either a trust or nominating a beneficiary is almost essential as neither party is entitled to any of the other’s estate unless there is a will giving them that right.

No, our beneficiary nomination doesn’t allow you to name a lender as this would be a direct benefit to your estate as it would be meeting your liability. For beneficiary nomination to be effective you must not be able to benefit yourself.

If it’s a single plan you can’t have both beneficiary nomination and a trust at the same time. If you’re considering a trust for one part, then we would suggest all covers should be under trust.

No, once you have nominated a beneficiary you can change to someone else or write the plan under trust at a later date but you can’t remove all beneficiaries as to be effective it must not be possible for the plan to come back into your estate for your benefit.

Usually yes, especially if they don’t have wills as they would not be entitled to anything from each other’s estates.

You can still recommend the plan is written under trust but unless it actually is, then you shouldn’t reflect anything other than that recommendation in the fact find as it isn’t in trust.

Yes, any benefit that starts to be paid before they die will be paid to them and if they die after it has started to be paid will be paid to the person entitled to their estate. Any benefit that starts to be paid after they die will be paid to the nominated beneficiary.