Insurance Matters After Death: Life Insurance, Group Insurance and Kela
· Updated · 4 min read
Claiming life insurance
Life insurance is one of the most important matters to investigate after a loved one's death. The life insurance payout can provide significant financial security for the family during a time of grief.
Check whether a policy exists
The first step is to find out whether the deceased had life insurance. Information can be found:
- In insurance documents among the deceased's papers
- In online banking transactions – insurance premium debits
- Directly from insurance companies – shareholders can enquire with an official certificate
Claiming the compensation
Life insurance is claimed from the insurance company in writing. The application requires:
- Death certificate or DVV's certificate of death
- Beneficiary's identity document
- Insurance policy, if available
- Genealogical extract, if no beneficiary has been designated
The compensation is paid to the beneficiary named in the policy. If no beneficiary has been specifically designated, the compensation is paid to the estate and is taken into account in the estate inventory. The application should be made as soon as possible – the insurance company usually processes it within 1–4 weeks.
Group life insurance
Employees' group life insurance (TRHV) is a life insurance policy taken out and paid for by the employer under collective agreements. Many people are unaware of it, so it is always worth asking the deceased's employer. Cover continues for three years after the employment ends, but ends on retirement on an old-age pension. Life insurance that a trade union takes out for its members is a different product; ask the union about it.
Who receives the compensation?
- The spouse: a married spouse or registered partner, or a cohabiting partner if the couple had a child together, a maintenance agreement certified by a notary public, or at least five years of living together
- Children under 22
If there are no beneficiaries, no compensation is paid.
Compensation amount
For deaths in 2026 or later:
- Spouse's share: 5,200–18,600 euros depending on the deceased's age (49 or younger 18,600 euros, 60 or older 5,200 euros)
- Child's share: 8,400 euros for each child under 22
- Accident increase: 50% of the spouse's and children's shares combined, if the death was caused by an accident
Claiming the compensation
The compensation is not paid automatically. It is claimed from the claims service of the Finnish Workers' Compensation Center (TVK) online or on a paper form, and each adult beneficiary makes their own application. The claim period is ten years from the end of the year of death. The compensation is the beneficiary's personal property. According to the Finnish Tax Administration, a benefit paid to a close relative, such as a spouse, child or the spouse's child, is exempt from income tax but taxable in inheritance taxation. A benefit paid to someone who is not a close relative is capital income and is not subject to inheritance tax. Under section 7 of the Income Tax Act, a cohabiting partner counts as a spouse only if the couple has or has had a child together or has previously been married to each other; otherwise a benefit paid to a cohabiting partner is taxed as capital income. More on the employer's role: employer's obligations in the event of death.
Cancelling insurance policies
The deceased's insurance policies do not automatically end upon death. The estate shareholders must cancel unnecessary policies.
Keep in effect for now
- Home insurance – protects the deceased's home and belongings until the home clearance is completed
- Car insurance – motor liability insurance is mandatory as long as the car is in the estate's name
Cancel
- Accident insurance
- Travel insurance
- Health insurance
- Phone insurance and other device-specific policies
The insurance company will refund the unused premium period to the estate. Submit the cancellation in writing and include a death certificate.
Kela benefits in the event of death
Kela receives notification of the death automatically from DVV, but benefits must be applied for separately.
Survivor's pension
A survivor's pension may be available to a surviving spouse under 65 who:
- Is or has been married to the deceased
- Has or has had a shared child with the deceased, or
- The marriage was contracted before the spouse turned 50 and lasted at least 5 years
Child pension
Children under 18 can receive a child pension from Kela. The pension consists of a basic amount and a supplementary amount that depends on the family's income.
The deceased's Kela benefits
Benefits paid until the end of the month of death (such as the national pension) belong to the estate. Overpaid benefits are recovered.
Checklist for insurance matters
- Check the deceased's life insurance policies and claim compensations
- Check group life insurance with the employer
- Apply for survivor's and child pensions from Kela
- Cancel unnecessary insurance policies
- Keep home insurance in effect during the home clearance
- Retain insurance documents for the estate inventory
Read more about handling banking matters after death and the estate administrator's duties.
Frequently asked questions
How is life insurance claimed?
Life insurance is claimed from the insurance company with a written application. The application must include a death certificate and the beneficiary's identity document. The compensation is usually paid within 1–4 weeks of processing the application. If no beneficiary has been designated, the compensation is paid to the estate.
What is group life insurance?
Employees' group life insurance is a life insurance policy the employer takes out under collective agreements. The beneficiaries are the deceased's spouse and children under 22, and the compensation is claimed from the Finnish Workers' Compensation Center; it is not paid automatically. For deaths in 2026 or later, the spouse's share is 5,200–18,600 euros depending on the deceased's age and the child's share is 8,400 euros per child.
What Kela benefits can be applied for after a death?
You can apply for a survivor's pension, child pension and changes to general housing allowance from Kela. The estate of a war invalid can receive funeral aid from the State Treasury (Valtiokonttori). A survivor's pension is paid to a surviving spouse under 65 who has or has had children with the deceased. A child pension is paid to children under 18.
Should the deceased's insurance policies be cancelled immediately?
Home insurance and car insurance should be kept in effect until the property has been transferred or sold. Other policies, such as accident and travel insurance, can be cancelled immediately. The insurance company will refund the unused premium period to the estate.
How do I find out about all of the deceased's insurance policies?
Request a list of the deceased's policies from insurance companies. You can also check the deceased's online banking transactions – insurance premiums appear as debits. Information about all policies is needed for the estate inventory, so the investigation should be started early.
Read also
A practical guide to the first hours after a loved one's death. Who to contact, what documents you need, and how to take care of yourself.
Estate banking matters: who can use the deceased's bank account, how to pay the estate's bills before the estate inventory and when the account is closed.
What documents are needed for an estate inventory? A comprehensive list: family records, civil registry certificates, will, bank statements, and property documents.