Almost three quarters (72%) of people believe their loved ones would be left financially insecure after only a year after their death.

More than a third (37%) reckon their partner would only manage for three months or less without them.

Two fifths (38%) of UK adults said they ‘often’ think about what would happen to their loved ones if they were no longer around.

For one in six (16%), it’s a constant worry, and for a fifth (22%) the thought crosses their mind regularly, according to research from Tesco Insurance.

Almost a third (29%) said that their partner’s ability to cope financially alone was their biggest worry while one in ten (11%) believe their loved ones would not cope financially at all.

The financial implications are significant, with more than half (51%) of adults believing their family would need more than £1,000 a month just to cover basic expenses such as housing, utilities, and food.

For more than a fifth of people (21%), that figure rises to £2,500 or more each month, suggesting that without proper planning, the long-term cost of losing a household income is a real and immediate concern.

Ban Mahsoub, partnerships director at Tesco Insurance and Money Services, said: “The death of a loved one is devastating enough, but for millions of UK families, financial survival is a very real fear.

“Our research shows that alongside grief, many are haunted by worries about how their family would manage day-to-day costs and stay afloat without their income. These concerns aren’t just hypothetical; they’re a daily reality for tens of millions facing rising living costs and uncertain futures.”

The company has launched a life insurance proposition with Aviva.

• An online survey was conducted by WALR among 2,008 consumers under the age of 55, of which 1,031 were homeowners with a current mortgage. Fieldwork took place between 11 - 15 July.