To make a Vitality life insurance claim after a death, whoever is handling it, whether family, a friend or the executor, rings Vitality on 0345 601 0072. Vitality's claims page, in the copy archived on 7 March 2026, says "Call us on 0345 601 0072, lines open Mon to Fri, 9:00am to 5:00pm (excluding bank holidays)", and also gives an email address. Check the number against Vitality's current website before you call.

How long the claim will take, and what Vitality needs for this particular policy, are questions for Vitality's claims team. If you later want a broker's view of cover for yourself or your family, the form on this page could start a relaxed chat with an FCA-authorised broker, with nothing to pay.

What should you have ready before you phone Vitality?

Vitality's documents page (archived 19 April 2025) suggests collecting what you can of the following: who died, how you are related, the cause of death, their GP's name and address, and the plan number, which is on the plan documents or emails. It also suggests checking the plan document, if you have it, for the amount of cover and any exclusions.

If you are claiming for someone else and cannot find their paperwork, Vitality's claims page says to look for the plan provisions, and adds: "If you aren't able to find these, just call us on 0345 601 0072 and we'll be happy to help." Vitality members find their plan details in Member Zone, which our page on Vitality's Member Zone, app and contact routes explains.

What happens after you ring?

Vitality describes three stages. In the first, the team makes some basic plan checks and asks for information, then "send you the relevant forms to complete", so the forms follow the call rather than being something to download first.

In the second, the claim goes to a dedicated Claims Assessor, who contacts you and keeps you updated. Vitality says the sooner you send everything it asks for, the easier and quicker the claim is to process, and that it sometimes has to ask third parties for information, which can cause a delay.

In the third, you get a decision. Vitality's words are "We’ll do our best to give you a decision as quickly as we can", and if the claim is approved it says it will pay the plan's beneficiary as soon as possible. If it declines, it says it will explain why and how to appeal. How long that takes in your case is a question for your Claims Assessor, who can tell you what is still outstanding.

Which documents might Vitality ask for?

Vitality's documents page (archived 19 April 2025) lists what it may ask for, depending on the plan:

  • proof of ID;
  • proof of bank details, such as a statement showing the account name and number;
  • medical evidence;
  • a birth certificate;
  • proof of death;
  • an original trust deed;
  • a Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration.

The Personal Protection Plan Provisions, in the copy archived on 21 February 2026, back some of this up. For a life claim, Vitality says "we will need proof that the person covered has died", and that for a joint plan paying on the second death it needs proof that both people have died. It may also ask for proof of the age of the person covered, and for anti-money-laundering purposes it "may require a claim recipient to give us satisfactory proof of their identity".

What if there is no Grant of Probate, or the policy is in trust?

Vitality's claims page says that when a plan was not placed in trust, extra steps are needed: an executor applies for a Grant of Probate if there was a will, and an administrator applies for Letters of Administration if there was not, which "can cause longer delays". It points to the GOV.UK bereavement guide.

In the copy of its claims documents page archived on 19 April 2025, Vitality said it would pay "up to £300,000 without a Grant of Probate" once it had accepted the claim and was satisfied who the beneficiary was, except for plans worth more than £300,000 or policies written into trust. Ask Vitality whether this still applies. For a trust policy the documents page lists an original trust deed, and the provisions say the trustees should keep it safe. Our pages on the Vitality trust forms and on whether life insurance needs to be in trust cover how trusts work.

That April 2025 copy also described a Funeral Pledge: if a valid life claim was likely to be delayed, Vitality would pay up to £10,000 towards a funeral "if the funeral payment is still outstanding", straight to the funeral director once it had checked their details and the invoice. Ask Vitality whether the pledge still applies.

On who is paid, the provisions say: "We will pay the benefit to the person legally entitled to receive it." What that means for each policy is for Vitality to confirm once you have the plan details. Our page on what happens to life insurance after a death explains the wider picture.

How does a serious illness claim differ?

A member claiming for a serious illness rings the same number. Vitality's page for serious illness claims (archived 12 June 2025) asks you to have the claimant's name, details of the claim, the name and address of their GP or consultant, medical reports from a doctor and the plan number, and says it may also ask for a copy of the claimant's job description.

There is a time limit here that the life cover claim does not have: for Serious Illness Cover, Vitality says "we must get written notice within 6 months of the life-changing event". The provisions add that a claim is paid only if the person survives at least 14 days after the event, and that Vitality asks the person's GP and treating specialists for medical evidence, with its Chief Medical Officer using that evidence to decide whether the claim is valid.

What Serious Illness Cover pays, and for which conditions, is on our page about Vitality's serious illness cover. Life Cover can also pay on a terminal illness diagnosis that meets Vitality's definition, which terminal illness benefit describes.

When might Vitality not pay?

Vitality's claims page says a valid claim is needed and that unpaid premiums, or inaccurate information given when the plan was applied for, may invalidate one. The documents page adds that Vitality may not be able to pay if the policyholder did not tell it something about their health or lifestyle when applying.

The plan provisions (the edition archived on 21 February 2026; check the plan's own copy) say Vitality "will not pay a claim for Life Cover or Life with Serious Illness Cover if one of the people covered dies as a result of suicide within 12 months of" the cover's start date, or of the date a plan was reinstated after unpaid premiums. If cover was increased, a death by suicide within 12 months of the increase means Vitality will not normally pay the extra amount. The wider position is on our page about suicide and life insurance.

If you are still unhappy after an appeal, the formal complaints route is on our Member Zone and contact page.

Frequently asked questions

Where do I get the Vitality life claim form?

Vitality's claims page says it speaks to you first and then sends the relevant forms to complete, so phone first.

Is there a deadline for a Vitality life claim?

For Life Cover, Vitality's documents page (archived 19 April 2025) says "there is no notification period", while the provisions ask you to tell it as soon as possible. Serious illness claims have a six-month written-notice limit.

Does Vitality offer bereavement support?

In the April 2025 copy of its claims documents page, Vitality linked to its own bereavement help, offering "Support, guidance and practical advice for dealing with a bereavement". Its claims page also points families to the GOV.UK bereavement guide for the practical steps after a death.

Once the claim is behind you, and if you want to look at cover of your own, our form will get an FCA-authorised broker ringing you free.

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