No home contents insurance when unemployed?

[AmberLeaf]

I have always had home contents insurance until a time arose that I had to cut back all non essential spending so cancelled my policy.

I have recently been looking at quotes and have found that some (the most affordable) have stated after filling all the details in and proceeding to purchase the cover that I must be employed or the spouse/partner of an employed person.

There was no 'carer' status to select under occupation so I think it was 'homemaker' that I selected.

I am a registered carer for my disabled son and receive carers allowance. I do no other work due to my caring responsibilities.

I have never seen this before and I took out my last policy while in the same position re being a carer/unemployed.

Is this normal now?

I have never made an insurance claim.

I can afford the monthly payments. My home is probably statistically less likely to be burgled as I'm home more than someone who works outside of the home would be so it seems odd.

The insurers were Halifax and Lloyds.

Added to that I live near a small river (more of a stream really) that despite having flood defences and not having flooded since the 1960s also limits my choices of insurers.

Anyone in the know who can advise me on my options or any recommendations of insurers who don't discriminate in this way?

Thanks

I will guess that the online forms have been simplified.

try phoning a few companies and I hope you will get better results.

You could use the online systems to find some companies with a reasonable price.

I just had a look at "Which" and the household insurers they recommend are (best first)

Hiscox, John Lewis Insurance, NFU Mutual, Marks & Spencer Money, Ecclesiastical, LV=, Insure4Retirement, UIA Insurance, RIAS

so I would try some of them.

Thanks PigletJohn

I used moneysupermarket, gocompare and comparethemarket.com

I end up with fewer results because of the being near a watercourse thing.

Ill have a look at those ones thanks.

Have a look at www.moneysavingexpert.com/insurance/home-insurance

It says being a homemarker is anyone who aren't receiving benefits that says they are looking for work. Is there a reason you can't be a homemaker but must be a carer? Or am I misunderstanding your OP and that you can't select homemaker?

Thanks

Well I cant work due to being a carer and I am receiving benefits but not the sort that require me to jobseek.

So I think that means I can select homemaker but then when I went onto the insurers website after being given a quote it states I must be employed.

PigletJohn I have just tried all of those insurers you listed and didnt get anywhere but I think thats mainly due to being too near a watercourse and one said because of the type of home ownership (I rent from a housing association)

maybe the HA will know an insurer?

Yes there is info about it on the HA website, they have a deal for their tenants with a broker I will enquire but tbh its not that cheap for the cover that is offered and I suspect the river thing will be an issue.

I'll keep trying!