Musculoskeletal conditions made up 44% of all claims paid by Cirencester Friendly in 2025, up from 25% in 2023, as the income protection provider reported a further rise in payouts to members.
The mutual said it paid more than £10.7 million in benefits last year and maintained a claims paid rate of 94%, meaning it has paid at least 94% of claims for the past 16 years.
In total, Cirencester Friendly considered 1,255 income protection claims in 2025 and paid 1,176 of them. While the number of claims reviewed was slightly lower than in 2024, the total amount paid to members increased.
Musculoskeletal issues, including back and neck pain, were the most common cause of claims for both men and women and across every generation in the workforce, from Gen Z to baby boomers.
The figures also showed a rise in mental health-related claims. These increased from 5% of all claims in 2023 to 8.1% in 2025, making them the third most common cause of claims overall and the second most common for women.
More than half of all claimants in 2025 were millennials, accounting for 53.9% of claims. Generation X made up 31.3%, while 11% came from Gen Z. The average age of male claimants was 41, compared with 42 for women.
By occupation, builders were the most likely profession to make a claim, followed by HGV drivers and joiners.
Ben Howe, chief operating officer at Cirencester Friendly, said: “I am proud that our latest claims figures underline our commitment to be there for Members when they need support the most. Maintaining a payment rate of 94% and above over a decade and a half shows people really are at the heart of our business.
“Through our ambitious growth plans, we aim to help even more people to protect their everyday lives.”
He said: “Our claims figures reflect the wider health issues facing the UK. We recognise we have a role to play in supporting better levels of health and exploring how our added value services can make more of a difference.
“For example, everyone making a claim related to mental health is now referred to our Friendly Voice service automatically, ensuring they have additional resources available to facilitate quicker and more effective recovery.”
Emma Vaughan, managing director of Omni Protect, said: “Claims statistics are powerful because they connect adviser confidence with real client outcomes. They help advisers move beyond theory and demonstrate, with evidence, how support works in practice when a client’s ability to earn is impacted by illness or injury.
“For clients, that transparency provides reassurance at a time when financial stability really matters. A sustained claims-paid rate of 94% or above over 16 years shows consistency in how people are treated and reinforces trust in income protection as a dependable source of support when people need reassurance the most.”
