Career Suggestion

Insurance claims handler

Insurance claims handlers process customers' claims on their insurance policies. They also give admin support for other types of insurance work.

Average salary (a year)

£23000.0 to £40000.0 (starter to experienced)

Typical hours (a week)

37.0 to 40.0

You could work

evenings / weekends on shifts

You can get into this job through:

  • a university course
  • a college course
  • an apprenticeship
  • working towards this role
  • applying directly
  • training with a professional body

University

You can study for a university degree before applying for a job. Employers accept most subjects although some may give preference to ones like:

  • finance
  • maths
  • law
  • economics
  • business management

It can help to get some relevant work experience whilst you're studying, for example through an internship or a year in industry placement.

Your university careers service will be able to help you with this.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree

More Information

  • student finance for fees and living costs|https://www.gov.uk/student-finance
  • equivalent entry requirements|https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels
  • university courses and entry requirements|https://www.ucas.com/

College

You could do a college course which would teach you some of the skills and knowledge needed to get a trainee position in insurance.

Courses include:

  • customer service
  • providing financial services
  • T Level in Finance

Entry requirements

Entry requirements for these courses vary.

  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths for a T Level

More Information

  • equivalent entry requirements|https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels
  • guide to T Levels|https://www.tlevels.gov.uk/
  • funding advice|https://www.gov.uk/further-education-courses/financial-help
  • search for courses|/find-a-course

Apprenticeship

You could apply to do an apprenticeship with an insurance or financial company.

These include:

  • Insurance Practitioner Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship
  • Senior Financial Services Customer Adviser Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship
  • Insurance Professional Level 4 Higher Apprenticeship

These normally take between 1 and 2 years to complete and combine workplace training and study.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship

  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship

More Information

  • equivalent entry requirements|https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels
  • guide to apprenticeships|https://www.gov.uk/apprenticeships-guide

Work

You may be able to start as an admin assistant or insurance clerk and take further training on the job to become a claims handler.

You'll usually need GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), including English and maths, A levels or equivalent qualifications.

Direct Application

You can apply directly for jobs. You'll usually need:

  • experience in insurance, related financial services or banking
  • GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), including English and maths
  • good IT skills
  • excellent communication skills

Other Routes

You could take the Chartered Insurance Institute's (CII) Foundation Insurance Test award to get a basic understanding of insurance. This may help you to find a trainee position with an insurance company.

Once working, you could study for further CII qualifications, as your career develops, such as the Certificate in Insurance .

If you have a university degree, you might be able to apply for a place on a graduate training scheme with an insurance firm.

More Information

Professional and Industry Bodies

You could join the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII) for professional development opportunities.

Further Information

You can find out more about careers in insurance from the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII).

Skills and knowledge

You'll need:

  • to be thorough and pay attention to detail
  • customer service skills
  • administration skills
  • the ability to work well with others
  • patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
  • excellent written communication skills
  • the ability to think clearly using logic and reasoning
  • excellent verbal communication skills
  • to be able to use a computer and the main software packages confidently

Day-to-day tasks

As a claims handler, you could:

  • take details when a customer makes a claim
  • check forms, documents and other evidence submitted with a claim
  • assess insurance claims against policies held
  • keep policy holders, insurers and other parties up to date with progress
  • refer more complex cases to senior handlers
  • identify and escalate potentially bogus claims for further investigation
  • make sure premiums are up to date
  • arrange payments on straightforward claims
  • keep accurate records of cases

Working environment

You could work in an office or in a contact centre.

With experience, you could work as a claims negotiator, or be promoted to senior claims handler or claims manager.

You could also move into other areas of insurance, like:

  • loss adjusting
  • brokerage
  • account management
  • compliance

Related careers

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