Group life assurance

As an employer, you want to protect the best interests of the people who power your business.

Group life assurance cover allows employers to provide financial security to their employees’ families if the worst happens and an employee dies while in service. This employment benefit can bring peace of mind to your employees.

What is group life assurance?

Group life assurance schemes are also known as group death in service schemes. 

Employer-sponsored life cover

The company pays the cost of the premium for its employees (the scheme members). Upon the death of an employee, a lump sum is paid to the scheme’s trustees, who pass it on to the employee’s estate. There is a maximum amount that can be paid tax-free.

Optional surviving dependent’s pension

An employer may also pay an additional premium for an annual dependent’s pension, via the company’s pension plan. This is also paid to the employee’s family and is taxed as income. The amount is decided upfront (for example, a proportion or percentage of the employee’s salary).

Benefits of offering group life assurance

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Benefits to your business

    Attract and retain employees

    An attractive benefit to help retain and reward current employees. Helps attract top talent and reduces staff turnover. Shows your commitment to employee wellbeing. Earns loyalty and reduces staff turnover and hiring costs.

    Provide financial protection

    Provides comfort during a tough situation. You would be providing a level of financial security to your employees’ families should the worst happen. Complements other benefits like group health insurance and group income protection.

    Cost-effective for your business

    You can write off the full cost against corporation tax. Group life assurance cover costs less than the equivalent individual cover. And administration is easier for you. The underwriting for group life assurance schemes is less strict than for individual cover. Irish Life offers competitive non-medical limits up to €1.8 million.

    Flexible and easy to manage

    You can customise your policy to suit your business needs and for different roles within the company. Efficient claims process.

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Benefits to your employees

    Employee wellbeing

    Brings peace of mind to your employees that their loved ones will have financial support should the worst happen. Reduces anxiety about their financial legacy and their family’s future.

    Financial benefits

    The employer pays the premium, so employees get a significant advantage from their workplace benefits scheme. Group life assurance is a tax-free benefit to the employee.

    Medical history

    Non-medical limits mean that when joining a group income protection scheme, an employee is automatically insured up to an agreed limit without having to complete any health questionnaire or medical exam.

Get a quote for group life assurance for your team

Protect the people at the heart of your business by providing end-to-end protection for your employees. We provide comprehensive group risk protection and support, more than just insurance. Contact our team to discover tailored protection solutions today.

Our strengths in group life assurance cover

Market leader

With a 50% market share (Irish Insurance Federation, 2025), trust our expertise to help protect your employees’ futures.
We provide protection coverage for 466,000 employees across 2,500 employers in Ireland.

Competitive rates

We have offered competitive rates for the past 20 years.
Our team of 65 life assurance and protection experts is dedicated to supporting your business.

Claims payouts

We handle claims efficiently, fairly, and sensitively.
We pay out approximately €50 million in group life assurance claims each year.

Making a group life assurance claim

Easy claims process

We make the claims process easy and quick for employers and their employees’ families during a difficult situation.

Supporting your people

Each year, we pay over €50 million in life assurance claims to the families of eligible employee members.

Guide for employers

Find out how to make a group life assurance claim in our guide for employers.

Setting up your group life assurance scheme

Resources

Read our booklets for more information

This guide explains the key information you need to know about our group protection products, from setting up a new scheme to paying claims.

Free consultation

Get a quote for group life assurance for your team

Offer your employees protection benefits that support them and their families, and show your commitment to workplace wellbeing. 

Book your free consultation and discover solutions tailored to your business.

Partner with Irish Life if you want:

Tailored, flexible options to protect your team when it matters

Cover from the largest group protection employee benefits provider in Ireland, protecting over 466,000 employees

Versatile, market-leading benefits for today’s dynamic and diverse workforce

An insight-led employee benefit strategy that helps grow your business

Other benefits from Irish Life

company pension

An award winning pension solution for your employees

corporate health

Bespoke health plans for your employees

wellbeing programme

Tailored wellbeing programmes to meet your employees’ needs