MetLife UK, the protection and employee benefits provider, has paid out a total of £252 million in Employee Benefit (EB) claims in 2025. With the number of lives covered across its EB portfolio is increasing to 1.9 million.
For its Group Life offering, MetLife UK paid more than £231 million to 1,851 families of employees, supporting 9.6% more employees than in 2024. And in 2025, the average life payment paid by MetLife UK averaged more than £120,000, providing families with financial support when they needed it most, with 95% of Group Life payments paid within just 2.4 working days.
For its Group Income Protection (GIP) offering, the protection provider paid out almost £21 million across 6,761 payments, protecting both employees and employers from the effects of long-term sickness absence. Where an employee is unable to work due to illness or injury, the GIP policy provides a replacement income to support employees financially; however, all MetLife GIP policies include industry-leading, employee assistance and wellness benefits such as access to a GP 24/7, a gamified app for health and wellness, Early Intervention services and an Employee Assistance Programme to support mental health. All are tailored to employees, promote wellness, lessen burnout and reduce absence from work.
MetLife UK has also seen growth in the number of lives covered under its GIP policy, covering more than 203,000 employees by the end of 2025, a 11% increase from 2024. With 800,000 more people out of work now than in 2019, across the UK due to health problems* demand for protection policies have increased substantially, supporting individuals in their recovery and getting back to work.
Adrian Matthews, Deputy CEO, MetLife UK, comments: We’ve seen a considerable increase in demand for employee protection policies, highlighting the scale of how many people have gone through difficult times.
“Experiencing bereavement or having a serious illness can have a profound impact on a household, particularly when it affects an income provider. Financial protection plays a vital role in helping families maintain stability during these moments, and we’re proud to have been there for those who needed that support most. Employers who not only offer financial protection, but also provide practical help such as rehabilitation, early intervention or counselling services, demonstrate a clear commitment to employee wellbeing and help people feel genuinely supported when it matters most.
“We remain committed to making it as quick and easy as possible for people to claim for financial support when they need, and that ultimately they can return to work.”
