Can I withdraw money from my universal life insurance policy?

Asked by: Mr. Scot Auer  |  Last update: April 8, 2025
Score: 4.5/5 (72 votes)

A policy owner of universal life insurance has the ability to access their cash in the form of either a life insurance loan, life settlement, or viatical settlement. It is important to remember that withdrawals from a policy's cash value reduce its death benefit and have different tax consequences.

Can universal life insurance be cashed out?

Impact on beneficiaries

Cashing out a whole or universal life insurance policy reduces the death benefit payable to your beneficiaries. If it's a withdrawal, the full amount is subtracted from the death benefit. If it's a loan, any amount you don't pay back is subtracted from the death benefit.

Can I borrow money from my universal life insurance?

Which Types of Life Insurance Policies Can You Borrow Against? You can borrow from permanent life insurance policies that build cash value. These would typically include whole life and universal life (UL) policies. You cannot borrow against a term policy since there is no cash value associated with it.

Can you get money back from universal life insurance?

Universal life policies work in a similar way to other permanent policies. In exchange for premiums, you typically get lifelong coverage and your beneficiaries receive a payout when you die. You also have the opportunity to build cash value and take out loans while you're still alive.

What is the cash value of a $10,000 life insurance policy?

Say, for example, that you purchase an insurance policy with a face value of $10,000. Once the policy matures, the cash value of the policy should equal $10,000.

How Do You Withdraw Cash From A Life Insurance Policy?

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How much tax will I pay if I cash out my life insurance?

Is life insurance cash value taxable? Fortunately, the cash value of life insurance grows tax-free. This means that, in many cases, you won't have to worry about paying taxes on it.

How soon can I borrow from my life insurance policy?

When your policy has enough cash value (minimums vary by insurer), you can use it as collateral to request a loan from your insurance company. Keep in mind that if you have a newer policy it may take several years before it has accrued enough value for you to borrow against.

What is the disadvantage of universal life insurance?

Cons: Drawbacks of Universal Life Insurance Policies

Here are some of the key disadvantages: Complexity: UL policies are more complex than other types of life insurance, such as term life insurance. They involve managing premiums, death benefits, and cash value growth, which can be confusing.

Can you get your money back from Universal?

A: Generally, all purchases are final and no refunds are available.

How to get out of a universal life insurance policy?

The process of canceling a whole life or universal life insurance policy is very similar to canceling a term life policy – stop paying premiums or notify the carrier. However, when canceling these types of policies, your insurer may offer you several nonforfeiture options. Cancel the policy and cash out.

How soon can I borrow money from my IUL?

You can generally borrow money from your life insurance policy once the cash value component has met a certain minimum threshold. However, to take the loan you want, the cash value balance must also reach an adequate level to provide collateral for the loan size you want.

Does universal life insurance have a guaranteed cash value?

Universal life generally offers the most life insurance benefit for your dollar. This is mainly because the death benefit and cash value growth are not guaranteed, like they are on whole life.

Can you use life insurance to pay off debt?

Because the policy's cash value acts as the loan's collateral, policyowners can only borrow from life insurance to pay off debt when their policies accrue money. Only policyowners with permanent life insurance policies, such as whole and universal life insurance, are eligible for this type of loan.

Can you borrow against your universal life insurance policy?

You can borrow money against permanent life insurance policies that have cash value. Some types of permanent policies you can borrow from include whole life, universal life, and final expense insurance.

What type of life insurance can you cash out?

Permanent life insurance, such as universal and whole life policies, comes with a death benefit and a cash value account that you may can cash out while you're still living.

When can a universal life policy be surrendered?

To surrender a life insurance policy, you must generally wait until after the surrender period is over, which can be anywhere from a few years up to 15 years. If you surrender earlier, you'll have to pay higher surrender charges, which reduces the cash surrender value you receive.

How do I withdraw from Universal Credit?

You cannot withdraw a claim once it has been successfully accepted as made. Doubtless DWP would, as they always have done, accept such attempts without question but that does not make it legal. A claim ends on the basis of a supersession. There must be grounds for a supersession.

How much is the deposit for Universal?

The standard deposit amount for a Universal Orlando Resort vacation package is $50 per person, not including any airfare or add-ins. Airfare and trip protection are due in full at the time of booking.

How to refund on Universe?

Open the drop-down menu by clicking on the three dots beside the order, and choose the option 'Refund & Cancel'. 5. A popup will appear for you to confirm the action you would like to take.

Should I cash out my universal life insurance policy?

For most, these should be used only for those that have a need for permanent life insurance, not for a savings or retirement account. If you have no need for life insurance, it may be worth cashing out the policy.

Which is better, whole life or universal life?

Generally, whole life is simpler and more predictable, and universal life allows for more flexibility throughout the duration of your policy. Explore Progressive's editorial standards for Answers articles to find out why you can trust the insurance information you find here.

What does Suze Orman say about universal life insurance?

One of my key life insurance rules is this: Stick with term life insurance. Unless you have someone in your family with special needs, there is typically no need to buy whole life, or universal life, which are referred to as “permanent” policies and cost a lot more.

What is the cash value of a $100,000 life insurance policy?

A typical life settlement is worth around 20% of your policy value, but can range from 10-25%. So for a 100,000 dollar policy, you would be looking at anywhere from 10,000 to 25,000 dollars.

Can you take money out of your life insurance while alive?

Access Cash Value: You can use the money from your policy while you're alive, which otherwise will likely go back to the insurer upon your passing. Low Interest Rate Loan: The interest rate on a loan from your cash value is typically 6-8%, much lower than the 12.38% average rate for a personal loan from the bank.

How does universal life insurance work?

Whole Life Insurance. Universal life is a form of permanent life insurance that gives policyholders flexibility in paying premiums, a cash savings component, and a death benefit. Universal life insurance allows you to borrow against or cash in your savings portion, which grows tax-deferred over your lifetime.