Protection Claims 2025: Proof That Protection Against the What If’s of Life Works When Needed

Life can be unpredictable, which is why planning ahead really matters and that why at Eolas Money, we help families make sure they’re covered if the unexpected ever happens. Our role is to remove the financial pressure by helping you put the right protection in place — cover that fits your life, your family and your goals. By building protection into your wider financial plan, we give families peace of mind today, knowing they’ve taken sensible steps to look after the people who matter most.

Each year Ireland’s leading insurers publish claims data showing how protection policies respond when customers need them most. The 2025 claims reports from Irish Life, Zurich Life and Aviva were recently published and they provide a clear message: claims are paid, consistently and in significant amounts — often earlier in life than expected. Below we have summaried the three main claim categories between each provider based on their most recent claims experience.

Income Protection – Safeguarding Your Income

Income Protection claims typically arise during people’s peak working years, often providing support for many years until the claimant is 1) able to return to work, 2) until their normal retirement age, or 3) death of the claimant – the earliest of the three events.

Key 2025 Income Protection Claim Insights

• Average Claimant Age:
  • Irish Life:    48
  • Zurich Life: 47
  • Aviva:         47
• Average Annual Payment:
  • Irish Life:    €25,237
  • Zurich Life: €26,560
  • Aviva:         €23,740
• Main Cause of Claims
  • Across all three insurers: Cancer, Psychological conditions, musculoskeletal/orthopaedic issues

Income Protection is unique in that claims often continue for many years, resulting in total payouts far exceeding initial expectations. In fact, Aviva’s average payment duration is 7.8 years. In addition to the above annual income protection payments, most employees would have received a disability benefit from the Department of Social Protection providing further income when needed most. Claimants who are self employer or company directors paying PRSI at class S are normally not entitled to disability benefit so their average annual income would typically be higher than an employee.

Serious Illness Cover – Lump Sums at Diagnosis

Serious Illness Cover provides a once off tax‑free lump sum on diagnosis of specified illnesses, helping families manage treatment, recovery time and financial commitments.

Key 2025 Serious Illness Claim Insights

• Average age at diagnosis
  • Irish Life:     54
  • Zurich Life:  53
  • Aviva:          52  
• Average payout
  • Irish Life:     €62,823
  • Zurich Life:  €72,935
  • Aviva:          €76,821
• Main illness paid on
  • Cancer accounted for 67% of claims which was consistent with all three assurers.
  • Breast cancer remains the most common diagnosis for women, with heart attack and prostate cancer being the highest claims for men.

As the above statistics show, these claims commonly arose well before retirement, when mortgages and family costs are still significant thereby reinforcing why proper financial planning is crucial as early in your career as possible.

Death Benefits – Financial Security When It Matters Most

Life insurance provides essential support to families following the death of a loved one with the total number of death claims paid in 2025 for the three providers totaling 4,117, with Irish Life paying €265.7 million to 2,831 families alone, and the largest single death claim paid by Aviva being €6.35 million.

Key 2025 Death Benefit Insights

• Average age at death claim
  • Irish Life:     68
  • Zurich Life:  63
• Average Death Payments
  • Irish Life:     €88,942
  • Zurich Life:  €117,000
  • Aviva:          €128,300
• Main causes of death claims
  • Consistent with all three providers, cancer remains the leading cause of death during 2025, followed by cardiac and stroke‑related conditions.

What The Above Figure Means for You

• Most living benefit claims occur in people’s 40s and 50s, not near retirement,
• The average living benefit claims statistics are low – you should consider the level of cover you require to maintain financial stability with your household.
• Cancer is the dominant cause across serious illness and life claims
• Income Protection delivers long‑term income, often for many years, which is a vital product to help maintain living standards and removes financial stress at a difficult time for most claimants.

Living & Death Benefits provides real, measurable financial support and these products should not be underestimated. If you are unsure of your protection plans and would like certainty in this area of your financial planning, book a discovery call with Eolas Money now to discuss your requirements.