---
title: Life insurance for single parents: What You Need and Why
url: https://coverfolk.com/for/single-parents
updated: 2026-10-08
---

# Life insurance for single parents

When you are the only parent, your kids count on you for everything.

[How much do I need?](/calculator)

Updated October 8, 20263 sources[Fact checked](/editorial-standards)

The short answer

Single parents usually need a term policy big enough to raise their kids to adulthood. Set up a trust or guardian plan so the money reaches your kids the right way.

**21%**Share of U.S. children who lived with only their mother in 2020. Another 4.5% lived with only their father.[Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Number of Children Living Only With Their Mothers Has Doubled in Past 50 Years](https://www.census.gov/library/stories/2021/04/number-of-children-living-only-with-their-mothers-has-doubled-in-past-50-years.html)

Lots of families have one parent. In 2020, the Census found 21% of children lived with only their mother and 4.5% lived with only their father.

If you are the only earner, there is no second paycheck to fall back on. Life insurance can pay for housing, food, school and the person who will raise your kids.

Social Security may pay your kids 75% of your benefit. That helps, but it is often not enough. A term policy fills the gap at a low cost.

## Tips that help

* Name a guardian for your kids in your will.
* Set up a trust to hold the money. Do not name a child directly.
* Get enough to raise every child to 18 or through school.
* Ask about no exam term if you need coverage fast.
* Tell the guardian where your policy papers are.

## Coverage that fits

[**Term life: The most coverage for the least money, for 10 to 30 years.**](/coverage/term-life)[**No exam: Many plans let you skip the needles and the nurse visit.**](/coverage/no-exam)[**Whole life: Coverage that lasts your whole life and builds cash value.**](/coverage/whole-life)

## Common questions

Who should be my beneficiary?

The NAIC advises against naming a minor child. A trust or your estate is the usual choice. A lawyer can help set up a trust.

Can my kids get Social Security if I die?

Often yes. SSA says a child can get 75% of the parent's benefit, up to a family limit.

What if my ex pays child support?

That support can stop if your ex dies. Some parents ask for coverage on the ex as part of the divorce deal.

## Sources

1. [U.S. Census Bureau, Number of Children Living Only With Their Mothers Has Doubled in Past 50 Years (April 12, 2021)](https://www.census.gov/library/stories/2021/04/number-of-children-living-only-with-their-mothers-has-doubled-in-past-50-years.html)
2. [Social Security Administration, Survivors Benefits, Publication 05-10084 (April 2026)](https://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10084.pdf)
3. [NAIC, Life Insurance Buyer's Guide (2026)](https://content.naic.org/sites/default/files/publication-lig-lp-consumer-life.pdf)