Financial underwriting limits
at a glance

We will ask your client for additional financial information in certain circumstances. The tables below show what we will ask for depending on the amount of cover asked for. All figures below include any existing cover with Bright Grey, or other insurers.

Life Cover
Up to £1,500,000 No automatic evidence
£1,500,001 to £3,000,000 Business financial questionnaire
£3,000,001 to £5,000,000


Business financial questionnaire countersigned by bank manager/accountant /solicitor and 3 years' reports and accounts.*
Over £5,000,000

The maximum amount of Life Cover available is £5,000,000

Relevant life policy
The maximum sum assured is 20 times salary  for clients aged up to 39, and 15 times salary for clients aged 40 and older. Salary can include P11D benefits and regular dividends paid in lieu of salary.
There are no financial underwriting requirements for this benefit in isolation up to £2,500,000. Cover in excess of £2,500,000 we will require proof of earnings. On more unusual cases we may occasionally need further information to establish earnings but no financial questionnaire is required.

*We may require additional evidence such as:

  • Corporate loan - copy of loan offer
  • Key person - copy of company valuation report, copy of service agreement/CV
  • Partnership/shareholder cover - copy of company valuation report, copy of double option or buy and sell agreement
Critical Illness Cover and Life or Critical Illness Cover
Up to £750,000 No automatic evidence
£750,001 to £1,000,000 Business financial questionnaire
Over £1,000,000

The maximum amount of Critical Illness Cover and Life or Critical Illness Cover available is £1,000,000

Employed applicants


Income Cover for Sickness (based on yearly amount of income*)
Up to £75,000

Completion of Section H of the Business Protection Menu application form
£75,001 to £100,000

Financial questionnaire or 2 years' proof of earnings (P60, P11D forms, tax assessments, pay slips etc.)
£100,001 to £150,000



Financial questionnaire signed by an independent third party (accountant, solicitor etc.) or 2 years' proof of earnings (P60, P11D forms, tax assessments, pay slips etc.)
Over £150,000

The maximum amount of Income Cover for Sickness available is £150,000

Self-employed applicants


Income Cover for Sickness (based on yearly amount of income*)
Up to £75,000

Completion of Section H of the Business Protection Menu application form
£75,001 to £100,000

Financial questionnaire or 2 years' proof of earnings (self-assessment forms or reports and accounts)
£100,001 to £150,000



Financial questionnaire signed by an independent third party (accountant, solicitor etc.) or 2 years' proof of earnings (self-assessment forms or reports and accounts)
Over £150,000

The maximum amount of Income Cover for Sickness available is £150,000

* which may include the following benefits in kind that are shown on a P11D tax form and would stop if they were unable to work:

  • living accommodation where they live and pay council tax;
  • company car when used for private use;
  • car fuel which is provided for use with their company car;
  • beneficial loans, excluding loans for travel tickets;
  • insurance such as critical illness insurance, private medical insurance and accident and travel insurance.
Key Person Income Cover for Sickness (based on yearly amount of income)
Up to £75,000

Completion of Section H of the Business Protection Menu application form
£75,001 to £100,000



Completion of Section H of the Business Protection Menu application form and 2 years' proof of earnings (P60 for employed people and self-assessment forms or accounts for self-employed people)
£100,001 to £250,000





Completion of Section H of the Business Protection Menu application form, 2 years' proof of earnings (P60 for employed people and self-assessment forms or accounts for self-employed people), 3 years' reports and accounts and service agreement/CV (if available)
Over £250,000

The maximum amount of Income Cover for Sickness available is £250,000

We might need further information from your client

Download our 'business protection financial questionnaire'

We’ll need your clients to complete this questionnaire if we require further details of their circumstances.
If you have any questions about why this is,
just call 0845 6094 505 or email: theunderwriters@brightgrey.com




Bright Grey. More financial sense from Royal London

We are backed by the financial strength and stability that comes from being part of the Royal London Group, the UK’s largest mutual life and pensions company.

Bright Grey is a division of The Royal London Mutual Insurance Society Limited which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority No. 117672.
Group registered VAT number 368 5244 27.

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