If anyone is financially dependent on you, they would probably find it hard to make ends meet if you died. Life insurance to pay out in the event of your death would give them financial security. The people you might want to protect include:

- A husband, wife or unmarried partner.
- Children
- An elderly relative who lives with you or depends on you.

In the same way, if you are financially dependent on someone, life insurance to pay out if they died would give you financial security. They could take out a policy on their own life to protect you.

Alternatively, you might be able to take out a policy on their life to protect you - this is called a 'life-of-another' policy. You might do this, for example, to cover maintenance payments you receive from an ex-husband or ex-wife.

If nobody is dependent on you and you do not rely financially on anyone else, you might not need life cover at all.