LV= paid out 95% of protection claims, including 91% of income protection (IP) claims, 88% of critical illness (CI) claims, and 100% of life assurance claims last year.

Fewer than 2% of IP claims and 3% of CI claims were rejected as a result of non disclosure.

In total, LV= paid out over £12 million in IP claims (up 3% on 2010), nearly £10 million in CI claims (up 7% on 2010), and more than £28 million was paid out in life assurance claims in 2011.

The average age of an IP claimant is 45 years old and 47 for a CI claimant.

Mental disorders were the most common reason for an IP claim (31%), while cancer was the most common reason for a CI claim (61%).

The average annual benefit for an IP claim is £16,568, paying out for an average of just over seven years. The average CI claim was £70,098.

Mark Jones , LV= head of protection, said: “We have made a number of improvements in recent years