Legal & General paid a total of £292m in Group Protection claims in 2018.

The insurer’s latest statistics also show that the rehabilitation and early intervention services provided as part of its Group Income Protection (GIP) policies helped 18% of total UK employees covered by GIP and who were absent from work due to illness back into the workplace during their deferred period.

Through its GIP policies, the insurer was able to help 631 employees return to work within the deferred period. A further 269 employees were able to return to work outside the deferred period with the support of the insurer’s early intervention services.

The statistics also reveal that mental health issues continued to be the main reason for new GIP claims in 2018, accounting for 25% of claims, and have been the top cause of claims on Legal & General’s Group Income Protection policies since 1999.

The insurer’s Early Intervention Programme and rehabilitation services are focused on supporting and benefitting the employee throughout their time off work, with trained clinicians assessing the best course of action to help them cope with their issues.

In 2018, the insurer facilitated almost 3,200 sessions for claimants suffering from physical and mental health conditions to its physiotherapy and psychological healthcare provider partners.

Vanessa Sallows, claims and governance director at Legal & General’s Group Protection, said: “These new figures clearly show the important role that Legal & General plays within the Group Protection industry. Paying a total of £292m in 2018 highlights the valuable financial support these policies can provide to our customers and their employees when they need it most.

“However, financial peace of mind is not the only benefit these policies can provide. Being unable to work due to illness or injury can be a frightening prospect for many people which is why we are dedicated to supporting these individuals through our market leading rehabilitation services. We can provide quick access to trained experts who are completely focussed on giving them the right treatment and, where possible, helping them get back to work more quickly.

“Supporting an employee at an early stage can be the difference between people being able stay in work and managing their health challenges and taking an extended period off that could stretch into months, or even years. So, it’s great to see so many people taking advantage of our flexible service, with nearly 3,200 treatment sessions being fulfilled through our partners.”