What the latest claims data tells us about Life Insurance, Specified Illness and Income Protection
Protection Claims in Ireland 2025
What the latest claims data tells us about Life Insurance, Specified Illness and Income Protection
The latest claims figures from Ireland’s five major life assurance companies — Irish Life, New Ireland, Zurich, Aviva and Royal London — provide an interesting insight into the types of illnesses affecting Irish families and the role protection insurance plays when life takes an unexpected turn.
In 2025, these five providers paid more than €919 million across 18,200+ protection claims.
There are some reassuring findings, but also a few statistics that may surprise you.
The headline figures
€919m+ paid in protection claims
18,200+ individual claims paid
Around €2.5 million paid every day
97–99% claims payment rates across the major providers
47 – the average age of an Income Protection claimant
7.8 years – the average duration of an Income Protection claim
34 years – the longest Income Protection claim currently in payment
Income Protection: the figures may surprise you
You may expect cancer to be a leading cause of protection claims, but you may not expect the average Income Protection claimant to be just 47 years old.
Income Protection claims are often made during people's peak working and earning years, when financial commitments can be at their highest.
The leading causes of Income Protection claims are:
Mental health / psychological illness
Musculoskeletal conditions
Cancer
Mental health has now overtaken musculoskeletal conditions as the leading cause of Income Protection claims. Aviva also reported a 32% increase in new Income Protection claims during 2025.
Perhaps even more striking is how long some claims last. Aviva reports an average claim duration of 7.8 years, with one claim having been paid for 34 years.
This highlights an important point: Income Protection isn't simply about covering a few months off work. For some people, illness can prevent them from working for many years.
Life Insurance: cancer remains the biggest risk
Cancer is the leading cause of Life Insurance claims across the major providers, followed by heart disease and respiratory illness.
The typical Life Insurance claimant is in their early 60s, although claims can occur at any age.
The financial support provided can be substantial. Zurich reports an average death benefit of approximately €117,000, and Irish Life paid its largest individual Life Insurance claim of €12.7 million in 2025.
Of course, the importance of Life Insurance isn't really about the size of the claim — it's about what that money means to the family left behind. It can help with a mortgage, household expenses, children's education or simply provide financial breathing space at an incredibly difficult time.
Specified Illness: serious illness can happen well before retirement
Cancer also dominates Specified Illness claims, with heart attack and stroke among the other major causes.
The typical claimant is around their mid-to-late 50s.
Specified Illness Cover can provide a valuable financial buffer at a time when someone may be facing treatment, taking time away from work or making changes to their lifestyle.
And importantly, a serious illness doesn't have to result in permanent disability to have a major financial impact.
What do the claims figures tell us?
1. Your income is one of your biggest assets
The fact that the average Income Protection claimant is only 47 is a useful reminder that illness can affect us during our working years — not just in retirement.
2. Mental health is a major financial risk
The rise in psychological illness as a cause of Income Protection claims reflects the changing nature of illness and the importance of protecting against conditions that may prevent someone from working.
3. Cancer remains the biggest protection risk
Cancer continues to be the leading cause of both Life Insurance and Specified Illness claims.
4. Claims can last much longer than expected
An average Income Protection claim lasting 7.8 years demonstrates why relying solely on savings or short-term employer sick pay may not be enough for a prolonged absence from work.
5. Protection policies are paying claims
More than €919 million was paid by these five providers in 2025, with claims payment rates generally between 97% and 99%.
Where claims are declined, the most common reasons include non-disclosure of relevant medical information and the condition not meeting the policy definition. This is why being completely open and accurate when applying for cover is so important.
The bottom line
Nobody expects to become seriously ill, be unable to work or die prematurely. But the 2025 claims figures show that these events happen to thousands of Irish families every year.
The good news is that protection insurance is there for exactly these circumstances.
Whether it's replacing an income for several years, providing a lump sum following a serious illness or giving a family financial security after a bereavement, the claims data demonstrates the real-world value of having the right protection in place.
The biggest takeaway? Don't just think about protecting what you own. Think about protecting the income that allows you to afford it in the first place.
Author: Rachel O’ Shea, QFA, SIA
References
Aviva Life & Pensions Ireland DAC (2026) Protection Claims 2025: Key Trends and Insights. Available at: Aviva Protection Claims Report (Accessed: 7 July 2026).
Irish Life Assurance plc (2026) Claims Paid 2025. Available via Brokerline: Irish Life Claims 2025 (Accessed: 7 July 2026).
New Ireland Assurance Company plc (2026) Life Insurance Claims Statistics 2025. Available via Bank of Ireland: New Ireland Claims Statistics (Accessed: 7 July 2026).
Royal London Ireland (2026) Claims Service – 2025 Claims Statistics. Available at: Royal London Claims Service (Accessed: 7 July 2026).
Zurich Life Assurance plc (2026) Protection: Our Claims Paid in 2025. Available at: Zurich Claims Paid 2025 (Accessed: 7 July 2026).
Zurich Life Assurance plc (2026) Life Insurance Claims Statistics 2025. Available at: Zurich Life Insurance Claims Statistics (Accessed: 7 July 2026).