Home workers won't need to tell insurers of changes until the end of the year, industry confirms

Insurers have extended Covid-19 support for millions of home and motor policyholders to the end of the year.

The Association of British Insurers (ABI) announced today that the measures, previously due to expire at the end of the month, will now be in place until at least December 31.

They mean that people working from home or using their car differently because of the pandemic do not need to inform their insurers as they normally would.

The ABI said that the cover of people who have signed up to volunteer for the NHS and are using their vehicle to deliver medicine or groceries to the vulnerable will not be affected.

The measures also require companies to provide additional support where necessary to customers who make a claim.

Laura Hughes, a manager at the ABI, said: “The extension of these temporary pledges underlines the commitment of insurers to helping customers through these continued challenging times.”

She said that firms had paid out more than £1.8bn in Covid-19 related claims. There are an estimated 17 million home insurance and 27 million motor insurance policies, the ABI said.

The rules will be reviewed again before the end of the year.

The ABI said that people who have “less temporary” changes to their working situation or driving patterns and are renewing a policy should discuss these with their insurer