Legal & General paid over £1.388bn across more than 26,000 protection claims in 2025, with group protection totalling £396m, up 14 per cent, across group life assurance, group income protection and group critical illness.
This included £284m paid across 1,413 group life assurance claims, with an average payout of £201,032.
L&G also paid more than £82m across 3,643 group income protection claims, with an average payout of £22,610.
More than £29m was paid to 353 individuals through group critical illness cover, with an average payout of £83,815, while £156,811 was paid for children’s claims.
Its group income protection framework saw 89 per cent of employees return to work within the first year of absence, up from 78 per cent in 2024, while 81 per cent returned within the deferred period, compared to 74 per cent the previous year.
Meanwhile, vocational rehabilitation assessments increased from 4,266 in 2024 to 5,007 in 2025, while the firm’s prevention-focused health and wellbeing services usage also rose 23 per cent, with engagement rising from 188,000 in 2024 to 231,217 in 2025.
L&G managing director, protection and retail retirement James Shattock says “Protection is more than paying a claim, it’s about supporting individuals and families when they need us most, keeping them protected, and helping them recover afterwards.
“We’re committed to continuously improving the claims journey by investing in our people, processes and digital solutions, so it’s efficient, transparent and flexible for customers during difficult times. For example, our fully digitised claims journey is already making a positive difference, allowing customers and their loved ones to start, pause and resume a claim whenever they’re ready.”
“Our Group Income Protection return to work outcomes have also gone from strength to strength over the past decade, thanks to our proven case management approach. This aligns closely with the recommendations in the government’s Keep Britain Working report, which we are proud to support.”
