Scottish Widows paid £219 million in life and critical illness claims in 2025, its latest data has revealed.
The insurer paid 99% of life insurance claims last year, totalling £127 million, and 91.9% of critical illness claims amounting to £92 million.
It said people aged 40 and under accounted for £23 million in claims paid, including £22 million to those aged between 21 and 40.
The youngest claimant was aged 27 for life cover and 23 for critical illness.
Furthermore, £890,000 was paid in child critical illness claims over the course of 2025.
David Russell, claims strategy manager at Scottish Widows, said: “People rely on protection to be there when it matters most, often at some of life’s most difficult moments. Paying 99% of life and critical illness claims shows how seriously we take that responsibility, helping to ease financial pressure when families need clarity and support.”
Scottish Widows said cancer remains the most common cause of critical illness claims, accounting for 63% of cases, followed by heart attack (11%) and stroke (9%). For women, cancer was behind 78% of critical illness claims, with 4.7% paid for stroke and 4.3% for heart attack.
Main causes of life insurance claims also included cancer (30%), with heart attack accounting for 16% of claims and respiratory just over one in 10 (12%) claims.
Russell added: “Cancer continues to be the leading cause of claims, reflecting the reality that it touches so many lives and our research with Macmillan shows the number of people living with cancer in the UK is expected to rise significantly by 2045.
“No two experiences are the same but having protection in place can help remove money worries at an already difficult time and provide a vital financial safety net if the worst happens.”
Scottish Widows said the average critical illness claim paid was £60,611 and the highest individual claim paid was £1.1 million.
For life insurance, the average claim paid was £57,115 and the highest individual claim paid was £1.3 million.
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