Life Insurance for Scaffolders 2025

Q: Do I need to tell my insurer that I am a scaffolder?

Yes, when applying for a life insurance policy it is vital that you disclose all information required correctly. If you aren’t honest about your occupation or fail to include it during the application process, then this will invalidate your policy. As a result, the insurer may refuse to pay out any current or future claims, due to the misrepresentation or non-disclosure . If you weren’t a scaffolder when opening your existing policy, and now you are (if your circumstances change ) then you should get in contact and update your insurer.

Q: Is life insurance for scaffolders more expensive?

Will I have to pay more? It’s possible that you’ll have to pay more for life insurance depending on your specific job role. If an insurer considers your job as high-risk they may increase the cost of your life insurance premium . This is because the risk of a claim is higher and they are more likely to pay out. Other factors considered by insurers that can affect the price of your premium, as well as a high-risk job, include: Health conditions - Having a family history of heath conditions or having a pre-existing medical condition Smoking status - Smokers are considered higher risk than those who don’t smoke due to associated health concerns High-risk hobbies - Extreme sports or other dangerous hobbies can be seen as putting yourself in voluntary life threatening situations Travel - If you travel a lot to countries where there’s a high-risk of serious disease or affected by war Alcohol/drug intake - Exceeding 14 units of alcohol per week can be seen as high-risk due to the health implications of long-term alcohol misuse BMI - Carrying more weight than what is deemed healthy can place you in the higher risk category The price paid for premiums will also be based on; how much cover you need , how long you want cover for and what type of life insurance cover you require.

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Life insurance for scaffolders

Can scaffolders get life insurance?
Do I need to tell my insurer that I am a scaffolder?
Is scaffolding considered high risk for life insurance?
What will an insurer ask about my occupation?
Is life insurance for scaffolders more expensive?
Best scaffolders life insurance
What are the benefits of life insurance as a scaffolder?
Other types of insurance for scaffolders

Can scaffolders get life insurance?

Yes, scaffolders could get life insurance. The reason for being declined a policy may not be due to your occupation but other factors such as your health, smoking status and medical history.

Although, being in a high-risk job can affect your application and the cost of your life insurance premiums depending on the level of risk involved.

Regularly, scaffolders who work on building projects and other construction sites (at a standard height), can secure life insurance at the standard rate.

During the application process you may be asked how often you work at height, what heights you work at and your role (daily tasks) as a scaffolder.

Here at Reassured, our specialist impaired risk team could help you secure some form of cover if you've been previously declined or if you are a high-risk applicant.

We also compare quotes from a panel of mainstream insurers, with prices starting from 20p-a-day for standard applicants^†.

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Do scaffolders need life insurance?

Yes, it is important to have life insurance regardless of your occupation.

Having life insurance can reassure you for the future that your loved ones are protected if the worst were to happen.

Especially as scaffolders tend to run a risk every day at work by working from heights and using dangerous machinery and equipment.

If you’re the breadwinner of your household or have other dependants, making sure you have a life insurance policy in place can protect your assets and loved ones, giving you peace of mind.

Worried about being declined? Even if you have been declined in the past because of being considered a high-risk individual, does not mean there isn’t a policy available to you now.

By comparing quotes you could find a suitable and affordable policy for you. We help individuals from all walks of life, so why not get in contact with one of our professionals at Reassured today to find yours?

Why not look into how much cover you may need with our life insurance calculator. Simply enter your financial circumstances:

How much life insurance do you need?

Work out how much life insurance you may need based on your current financial commitments and what you want your policy to cover. Simply fill in the fields which apply to you for an instant calculation.

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Do I need to tell my insurer that I am a scaffolder?

Yes, when applying for a life insurance policy it is vital that you disclose all information required correctly.

If you aren’t honest about your occupation or fail to include it during the application process, then this will invalidate your policy. As a result, the insurer may refuse to pay out any current or future claims, due to the misrepresentation or non-disclosure.

If you weren’t a scaffolder when opening your existing policy, and now you are (if your circumstances change) then you should get in contact and update your insurer.

Don’t worry, it may not necessarily change your premium cost but it is worth making sure your policy is up to date with the correct information.

Is scaffolding considered high-risk for life insurance?

Yes, due to factors like working from high platforms and using dangerous and heavy equipment there is a higher chance of accidents or fatalities.

Being high-risk means you are more likely to make a claim on your life insurance policy by being involved with a dangerous job or hobby.

You can also be considered as a high-risk applicant due to a severe illness or medical condition, your BMI, travel status and an over average alcohol intake.

A key part of being a scaffolder is working from height. Falling from heights is currently one of the main reasons for death at work. Not only do scaffolders work from heights but they can also use heavy machinery and materials.

Of all the fatalities analysed from 2023 to 2024, 50% of them were attributed to falling from a height. With 20% being from materials or fast-moving machinery falling and 15% were as a result of tragically being trapped beneath collapsing structures, tools or machinery[1].

Not all scaffolders will carry out activities that are considered high-risk, which means it still could be possible for scaffolders to get life insurance at the standard rate (this means you won’t be charged a higher premium due to your job).

Causes of fatalities in the workplace desktop

What will an insurer ask about my occupation?

When applying for a policy as a scaffolder, you are typically asked about the following:

What is your job role and in which industry?
How often do you work at heights?
What height do you work at (is it more than 40 feet?)
Do you use dangerous machinery or equipment?

Insurers will also ask the standard questions about:

Your age
Your current health and wellbeing
Your medical history (including family medical history)
Alcohol consumption
Your smoking status
Your hobbies

Is life insurance for scaffolders more expensive?

Will I have to pay more? It’s possible that you’ll have to pay more for life insurance depending on your specific job role.

If an insurer considers your job as high-risk they may increase the cost of your life insurance premium. This is because the risk of a claim is higher and they are more likely to pay out.

Other factors considered by insurers that can affect the price of your premium, as well as a high-risk job, include:

Health conditions - Having a family history of heath conditions or having a pre-existing medical condition
Smoking status - Smokers are considered higher risk than those who don’t smoke due to associated health concerns
High-risk hobbies - Extreme sports or other dangerous hobbies can be seen as putting yourself in voluntary life threatening situations
Travel - If you travel a lot to countries where there’s a high-risk of serious disease or affected by war
Alcohol/drug intake - Exceeding 14 units of alcohol per week can be seen as high-risk due to the health implications of long-term alcohol misuse
BMI - Carrying more weight than what is deemed healthy can place you in the higher risk category

The price paid for premiums will also be based on; how much cover you need, how long you want cover for and what type of life insurance cover you require.

Comparing quotes can help you save money on your life insurance premiums, as each insurer has a different way of assessing risk.

If you’re a scaffolder and accepted for a policy on standard terms, prices start from just 20p-a-day through Reassured.

Our life insurance comparison service can help you save time and money, so get in touch.

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Why use Reassured for life insurance as a scaffolder?

We offer a specialist impaired risk team who are able to help find some form of cover for those who’ve previously been declined
Our services are rated ‘Excellent’ on Trustpilot with over 80,000 customer reviews
We provide a free trust writing service with most policies; this will avoid/minimise 40% inheritance tax & probate for loved ones
Reassured can compare life insurance as well as other policies such as critical illness cover
As a brokerage service, we can help you fill in the application form & answer any questions you may have
We provide free, no-obligation quotes from a range of major insurers as well as smaller specialist insurers
Free terminal illness cover is available with all term policies arranged through us
Affordable rates for scaffolders & other high risk workers
Our experts can help identify the insurers most likely to offer cover to scaffolders & provide affordable rates

Best scaffolders life insurance

There is not necessarily a ‘best’ life insurance for scaffolders because the best suited policy for you will be down to your own personal circumstances, budget and what you are looking to cover.

However here are some policy options available we believe may be best suited:

Level term life insurance

Provides cover for a specified period of time (up to 40 years)
Sum assured remains fixed throughout the policy lifetime (Provides a fixed level sum assured up to £1,000,000)
Ideal for helping to cover large expenses, such as an interest-only mortgage, future family living costs or an inheritance
Scaffolders could experience inflated premiums due to disclosing high-risk factors

Decreasing term life insurance

Provides cover for a specified period of time (up to 40 years)
Sum assured reduces over the policy lifetime (up to £1,000,000)
Ideal for helping to cover a repayment mortgage or debts that decrease over time, as your sum assured can reduce in line with payments
Scaffolders could experience inflated premiums due to disclosing high-risk factors

Whole of life insurance

Provides cover for the rest of your life
Larger sum assured potential (up to £1,000,000)
An ideal option for those who want to guarantee their loved ones an inheritance
Scaffolders could experience inflated premiums due to disclosing high-risk factors

Over 50 life insurance

Provides cover for the rest of your life
Guaranteed acceptance to applicants aged 50 - 85
Sum assured is at a capped sum (this is often between £10,000 - £20,000)
Ideal for helping to cover funeral costs or to leave as a small inheritance
A 12 or 24 month waiting period will apply. Meaning loved ones can’t claim within this time if you pass away due to natural causes (but they could claim for accidental death)

What are the benefits of life insurance as a scaffolder?

When being in a high-risk job where anything could occur in a work day, it is important to feel protected and reassured to know that your loved ones will be looked after if you were to pass away.

If you are unsure on what you need to cover, here are some examples of what a life insurance pay out could help with:

Replace an income - If you largely contribute to a household
Pay off a mortgage/ housing payments - Average mortgage debt in the UK stands at £132,378^[2]
Settle any remaining financial debt - £65,665 is the average total debt per UK household^[3]
Cover funeral costs - The average cost of a basic funeral in the UK is £4,141^[4]
An inheritance to be left for loved ones - Avoids or minimises inheritance tax if you have a large estate
Children costs (living and schooling) - £288.13 is the cost per week for full time childcare^[5] and £157,562 is the average cost of raising a child to 18^[6]
Household costs

Overall, it can help to give you peace of mind that your loved ones will be taken care of financially in the event of you no longer being around.

Other types of insurance for scaffolders

Some other policies available to scaffolders that you may want to add on or consider are:

Critical illness cover - A cover that can be added to all term policies for an additional cost when secured through Reassured. When added to life insurance, it can supply a tax-free lump sum if you pass away within the policy term or if you’re diagnosed with a critical illness.

Family income benefit (FIB) - A type of life insurance policy that provides cover for a set period of time. Your loved ones will receive tax-free monthly income payments if you pass away during the policy term.

Income protection - A separate insurance policy that could pay out up to 70% of your usual income if you become too ill or injured to work. Income protection can be essential for scaffolders, builders and construction workers who are self-employed.

Reassured could save you time and money by comparing premiums and finding a great price for you.

Critical illness cover for scaffolders

Another type of policy available is critical illness cover. This is where a lump sum is provided if you were to be diagnosed with a specified life-changing (but not terminal) illness, covered by your policy.

Typically critical illness refers to a specified serious illness. This can include some types of cancer, heart attack or a stroke. Each insurer will have a list of illnesses that they believe to be critical.

This is something you can add to your life insurance policy for extra reassurance. The tax-free pay out can be used for whatever you deem necessary. For example, it could help towards private medical care or making adaptations to your home.

Scaffolders could take out life insurance with critical illness cover through Reassured.

Compare Quotes FREE of Charge with Reassured »

Income protection for scaffolders

There may be a time you fall unwell or injured and you may assume that your employer will continue to give you some level of income. However, this may not always be the case, this is why income protection can be organised.

Income protection is a type of insurance policy that secures you with a regular income until you retire or are able to return to work.

You can take cover out on a short-term basis (between 1 - 5 years) or long-term basis (payment period could last until retirement).

The option that’s best for you will depend on your personal circumstances and available budget.

As a scaffolder this could give you piece of mind to know that your essential costs and other financial commitments would have help being covered in the event of an accident.

Available through Reassured's advised team.

Our top tips on how to secure affordable life insurance as a scaffolder:

Secure yourself a policy sooner rather than later as premiums increase as you get older
Make sure to compare multiple quotes from different insurers to find your best deal
It’s important to answer the application questions correctly. Regardless of your occupation, there should be a suitable policy
Do not fear being declined, we have a specialist impaired team here to help if you require assistance
By living a healthy lifestyle (for example, not smoking) you can reduce your premium costs substantially

How to get life insurance for scaffolders

Many ‘high-risk’ occupants believe that life insurance can be unaffordable, however there are many different policies suitable for many circumstances.

Working from heights and with machinery and equipment, in fact emphasises the importance of protecting loved ones if the worst were to happen.

By exploring your options and comparing quotes, you may be able to secure a suitable and affordable policy, fitting your needs and lifestyle.

At Reassured, our award-winning team can help you, saving time and money. Whether that’s via phone call with an expert or using our online comparison service.

So why not reach out today and get in touch with one of our approachable professionals to see if we can help you arrange a cover to meet your specific needs.