At Red Star Financial Services, we’re proud to have a close working relationship with Holloway Friendly — a specialist income protection provider with a long history of putting people first. Their 2024 claims performance shows just how vital this cover can be when life takes an unexpected turn.
In 2024 alone, Holloway Friendly paid out £5.13 million to members who were too unwell to work — a 20.2% increase compared to 2023. These figures, drawn entirely from Holloway Friendly’s latest claims data, highlight the real difference income protection makes for ordinary people across the UK.
📊 What the 2024 Claims Data Shows
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£5.13 million paid out to members
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607 claims admitted
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94% of new claims were accepted
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96.5% of claim decisions made within 30 days
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99.8% of members making a claim were contacted within 24 hours
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Most common cause of claim: musculoskeletal issues
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Mental health conditions and cancer also among the top reasons for being off work
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Average claim assessment time: 3 working days
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Youngest claimant: 19 | Oldest claimant: 64
These aren’t just statistics — they represent hundreds of people who were able to stay afloat financially during illness or injury, thanks to having the right cover in place.
✂️ A Realistic Example (Fictional Case Study)
To bring this to life, here’s a fictional but realistic scenario based on the types of claims Holloway Friendly sees:
“Emma, 36, is a self-employed hairdresser. After developing severe wrist pain from repetitive strain, she was signed off work for eight weeks. Without income protection, she’d have had no way to pay her rent or bills — but her Holloway Friendly policy paid a monthly benefit that kept her afloat until she was well enough to return to the salon.”
While Emma isn’t a real person, her situation mirrors the kind of short-term absence many workers face — and shows the practical value of having cover in place.
👩🔧 Who Is Income Protection For?
Holloway Friendly supports people from all walks of life — including care assistants, plumbers, electricians, retail workers, teachers, self-employed tradespeople, hairdressers, and company directors. Whether you’re on PAYE or working for yourself, if you rely on your income to live, you could benefit from protection.
And it’s not just for life-changing illness. Many claims are for temporary issues like back pain, stress, or post-op recovery — things that could happen to anyone.
🏛️ Why Holloway Friendly?
Founded in 1875 by social reformer George Holloway, Holloway Friendly pioneered the UK’s first income protection policies. Today, they remain a member-owned mutual, operating purely for the benefit of their members — not shareholders.
Based in Gloucester, Holloway Friendly focuses solely on income protection. In 2024, they delivered:
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Nearly 100% contact within 24 hours of a claim
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Decisions within 30 days in 96.5% of cases
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A consistent, fair process designed to support rather than stress
This is what dependable protection looks like.
⚠️ Why Some Claims Are Declined — And How to Avoid It
Holloway Friendly paid the vast majority of claims in 2024, with a strong 88.3% claims paid rate — an improvement on 2023. But like any insurer, there were a few situations where claims couldn’t be paid.
The main reasons were:
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Non-disclosure — when key health or lifestyle details weren’t shared on the original application
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Policy conditions not met — for example, the claimant wasn’t working at the time of illness or didn’t lose income
At Red Star, we help get applications right from the start. We talk through your circumstances honestly, ask the right questions, and make sure nothing is missed — so if you ever need to claim, your cover works as it should.
☎️ Let’s Get You Protected
At Red Star Financial Services, we help clients across the UK put the right income protection in place — tailored to your job, income, and budget. Many policies start from just a few pounds a week and don’t require a medical.
We’ll explain how it works, what it covers, and how to make sure it fits your needs — with clear advice and no pressure.
📞 Call us on 0161 823 1736 or click here to contact us to book your free protection review.
Let’s make sure you’ve got the right cover in place for 2025 and beyond.