27% of those recently surveyed for income protection specialist Cirencester Friendly have revealed that they have had to take a month or more off work due to accidents or ill health.

This figure increases to 35% among those aged 55 and over., while 14% of those aged 34 and under have been unable to work for a month or more due to illness or injury.

Those that have taken a month or more off work, have on average been off work for four and a half months. 12% of these people were off for between 6 and 12 months and 25% of them have had more than a year off. 11% of those that have taken time off believe they will never be able to return to work.

Respondents were asked if they knew anyone who was currently of work due to long-term illness or injury. 19% said they did know of someone. The figures were notably higher for those aged under 55 (23%), compared to those aged over 55 (16%). Cirencester Friendly said that these results reflect growing levels of ill-health in the country, with record numbers of people of working age on long-term sick leave. This has risen to more than 2.7 million, equal to one in 13 of the working population.

WORSENING EFFECT

A prolonged period off work can lead to isolation and loneliness, further affecting a person’s health and their ability to make a successful return to work. 31% of those that knew someone on long-term sick leave said they have had less contact with that person than before their illness. Men (35%) and those aged 34 and under (36%) are most likely to lose touch with someone they know who is ill.

INCOME PROTECTION APPEAL

57% of respondents would consider buying a product that paid an income if unable to work through accident or illness. The idea of income protection is most appealing to younger adults – 74% of those surveyed aged 34 and under stated that they would be interested in buying the product. Just in 13% in this age range said they wouldn’t consider it at all.

These findings are supported by the recent AMI Viewpoint survey, which showed that 16% of those aged under 34 have income protection compared to just 7% of those aged 35 to 54 and only 1% of those aged 55 and over. The same survey found Gen Z and Millennial respondents were much more likely to think it’s important to have income protection compared to Gen X and Boomers.

“spending a prolonged time off work due to ill-health is far from uncommon, even amongst the youngest members of the workforce”

Cirencester Friendly’s research was conducted by Opinium Research with 2,000 UK adults in October 2024.

Alan Waddington, Cirencester Friendly’s distribution director, said: “These figures show spending a prolonged time off work due to ill-health is far from uncommon, even amongst the youngest members of the workforce.

“It is startling that amongst those that have had to take time off, more than one in 10 believe they will never get back to work. There appears to be a real opportunity with younger people and it is up to us to work with advisers to find the best way to tap into it.

“If this momentum is not to be lost, it’s vital that we develop new communication channels and messaging that resonates with this audience.”