Insurance claims handler

Career path and progression

With experience, you could work as a claims negotiator, or be promoted to claims manager.

You could move into other areas of insurance like loss adjusting, broking, account management, or compliance.

What it takes

Skills and knowledge

You'll need:

• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• customer service skills
• administration skills
• the ability to work well with others
• patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
• sensitivity and understanding
• a desire to help people
• business management skills
• to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently

Related subjects

Most relevant

• Mathematics - Insurance claims handlers work with numbers constantly – calculating policy values, checking premiums, verifying claim amounts, and arranging payments. They need to be confident with percentages, financial calculations, and spotting numerical errors in claims.
• Business - Insurance claims handlers work within the financial services industry and need to understand how insurance companies operate, including policies, premiums, and risk. Knowledge of business processes, customer service, and organisational management is central to the role.
• Law - Insurance claims handlers need to understand contract law, as insurance policies are legal agreements between the insurer and the customer. They check whether claims are valid under the terms of a policy and must be aware of regulations around fraud and consumer rights.
• English Language - Insurance claims handlers spend much of their time communicating with customers, explaining the claims process, and writing clear reports. They need to read and interpret detailed policy documents and present information accurately in writing.

Also relevant

• Economics - Insurance claims handlers benefit from understanding how markets, risk, and financial systems work. Economics helps explain concepts like pricing, supply and demand, and the broader economic factors that affect insurance claims and the industry as a whole.
• Psychology - Insurance claims handlers deal with people who may be stressed, upset, or frustrated after experiencing a loss or accident. Understanding human behaviour and emotions helps them handle sensitive conversations with empathy and remain calm under pressure.
• Accounting - Insurance claims handlers verify financial information such as receipts, valuations, and payment records when processing claims. An understanding of financial record-keeping and how money flows through a business helps them assess claims accurately.