Quick verdict on Cirencester Friendly

Cirencester Friendly is a member-owned mutual founded in 1890. Its current income protection options include own-occupation cover and a choice of deferred periods, subject to the selected policy's terms, eligibility and underwriting.

It may be worth comparing for some occupations or hobbies, for applicants considering shorter deferred periods and for people who prefer a mutual provider. The actual premium and terms depend on the individual application.

Where another provider may suit you better: high earners, since the £52,000 cap is below what Aviva, Legal & General and Royal London will write; and applicants over 54 looking at the lower-cost policy, since My Earnings Protected entry stops at 54. The only honest way to find out is a side-by-side comparison.

The headline numbers at a glance

• Both policies use an own-occupation definition (claim if you cannot do your specific job, not any job)
• Deferred-period options include day one and one week on the current products
• No premium loading for occupation, smoker status or hazardous hobbies, with the exception of motorsport
• Cover is sold through brokers and advisers only — not direct-to-consumer
• Current product details and service terms should be checked before applying
• Member-owned mutual — no external shareholders, surplus reinvested into policies and member services

Why a broker has to be involved

A point that catches people out: you cannot ring Cirencester directly and buy a policy. The society's distribution is intermediary-only — every contract has to be arranged through a UK broker or financial adviser.

Two reasons. First, the regulator considers income protection a complex retail product where appropriate advice is essential — a deferred period that looks fine on paper can leave a household with no income for six months in a real claim, and a benefit set 5% too low can leave a mortgage uncovered. Brokers exist to catch those mistakes. Second, the society is a product manufacturer rather than an advice firm; they design and underwrite the cover, but the suitability conversation happens elsewhere.

LifePro can compare Cirencester Friendly's quoted premium, cover, exclusions and terms with policies available from other UK insurers. LifePro does not charge a broker fee; an insurer pays LifePro commission if a policy starts.

My Earnings Protected vs Income Assured Enhanced

Both products are 5-star Defaqto with own-occupation definition; the differences sit in the small print.

My Earnings Protected — the flagship, higher replacement percentage:

• Income replacement — up to 65% of gross earnings
• Maximum benefit — £52,000/year (£4,333/month); minimum £4,160/year
• Eligible age at entry — 18 to 54
• Deferred periods — 1, 4, 8, 13, 26 or 52 weeks, plus split-deferral
• Payment period — long-term (until policy ends) or short-term (max two years per claim)
• Premium type — guaranteed level (fixed) or age-banded (rises each year)
• Optional severe injury cover — day-one lump sum for specified serious injuries
• Claim frequency — no cap on separate claims

Income Assured Enhanced — older entry, included terminal-illness payout:

• Income replacement — up to 60% of gross earnings
• Eligible age at entry — 18 to 59
• Deferred periods — 1, 4, 8, 13, 26 or 52 weeks, plus split-deferral
• Premium type — guaranteed level or age-banded
• Terminal illness benefit — standard; 12-month prognosis triggers a lump sum equal to six months of benefit
• Day-one accident protection — optional add-on for accident-related claims
• Claim frequency — unlimited separate claims

Summary: My Earnings Protected suits the 18–54 band wanting the highest benefit cap; Income Assured Enhanced suits the 55–59 band, anyone valuing the terminal-illness lump sum, or applicants who want day-one accident protection without a day-one deferred period across the board.

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Premium pricing and what moves it

Cirencester Friendly income protection is generally competitive on price, with one structural quirk that sets it apart — they do not load premiums for hazardous occupations, smoker status or dangerous hobbies. The single exception is motorsport. That makes Cirencester Friendly income protection disproportionately strong for tradespeople, scaffolders, motorcycle couriers, smokers and anyone who would face significant loadings elsewhere.

On both policies, the premium calculation runs from:

• Age at application
• Health and medical history disclosed at underwriting
• Selected benefit amount
• Deferred period (longer waits cut premiums substantially)
• Payment period (short-term is materially cheaper than long-term)
• Premium type — guaranteed level (fixed) or guaranteed age-banded (rises each year at a known rate)
• Policy term and chosen end age
• Cover basis — fixed level or RPI-indexed (up to a 10% annual increase cap)

Materially missing: occupation class, smoker status and standard hazardous hobbies. By comparison, a smoking declaration at most other insurers commonly adds 30–50% to monthly cost, and a class-3 or class-4 occupation can add another similar layer.

Indicative monthly premiums quoted through LifePro, assuming good health, a 13-week deferred period, full long-term payment, and cover running to age 65 on a £30,000 income:

Indicative Cirencester Friendly income protection pricing

Real numbers move with BMI, family medical history and any treated conditions. The level-vs-age-banded choice has the longest tail — a 25-year-old paying £14.60 on age-banded premiums today will see that number climb every year. The £52,000 annual benefit ceiling also means very high earners (gross income above about £80,000) hit the cap and get a smaller-than-65% replacement ratio; Aviva or Royal London typically write more cover for those applicants.

My Extra Benefits — the optional add-ons

Beyond the core Cirencester Friendly income protection contract, the society offers a paid optional package called My Extra Benefits. The package has a minimum five-year term, runs to age 70 or your selected retirement age, and requires you to be a UK resident aged 16–65 at application with up-to-date premiums on the main policy.

My Extra Benefits — Cirencester Friendly optional add-ons

Severe injury cover sits separately and is only available on My Earnings Protected — an optional bolt-on inside the income protection contract that pays a lump sum from day one for specified serious injuries (loss of limb, loss of sight, severe burns) regardless of your chosen deferred period.

Other optional policy features worth flagging:

• Indexed (RPI-linked) cover — links the benefit to inflation, with a maximum 10% annual increase, measured against the Consumer Prices Index
• Guaranteed insurability option — increase the benefit without further medical underwriting following major life events
• Recovery benefit (My Earnings Protected only) — temporary partial benefit if you return part-time or in a lower-paid role
• Day-one accident protection (Income Assured Enhanced only) — pays from day one for accident-related claims
• Split-deferral — pays part of the benefit after one deferred period and the rest after a second

A broker's caution: severe injury and fracture benefits overlap with critical illness or accident policies; the immediate death benefit overlaps with existing life insurance. Check what you already hold before paying for duplicate cover.

Member services included with every policy

Every Cirencester Friendly income protection policyholder becomes a member of the society and gains access to a free package of health and lifestyle services — included as standard, funded by the mutual structure rather than charged separately:

• GP24 — round-the-clock digital GP appointments by phone or video with a UK-registered doctor, for policyholder, partner and children
• Friendly Voice — telephone-based emotional and mental-health support, including therapies and personal-nurse access, for policyholder and partner
• Children's critical illness support — a £2,500 lump sum if a policyholder's child is diagnosed with one of ten listed conditions
• 125 Foundation — financial-hardship grants for personal use or community causes, run by the society to mark its 125th anniversary
• Your Halo — a personalised wellbeing service covering nutrition, sleep, exercise and general health
• Member perks — discounts on shopping, gym memberships, cinema and lifestyle brands

These extras are genuinely useful, but choose your insurer on the strength of the underlying cover, claims record and price. Treat member services as a tiebreaker.

The 2023 claims figures and what they mean

Cirencester Friendly publishes claims information periodically. Check the provider's latest dated report at the original source before relying on any claims statistic, as reporting periods and definitions can change.

A historic claims figure does not guarantee that a future claim will be accepted. Payment depends on the policy wording, exclusions, the information supplied at application and the evidence provided at claim time.

The most common decline reasons across the UK market as a whole:

1. Non-disclosure at application: Pre-existing conditions or lifestyle factors not declared honestly
2. Condition outside policy definitions: Claimant is not 'unable' to do their occupation as defined
3. Insufficient medical evidence: GP fitnotes don't support the duration of absence claimed
4. Policy lapsed: Premiums missed before the date of absence
5. Claim falls within an exclusion: Specific exclusions written in at underwriting

The single biggest control you have over whether your own claim is paid is honest, complete medical disclosure at application stage. A broker familiar with the underwriting team can help frame disclosures correctly.

Common income protection claim categories may include:

• Musculoskeletal conditions such as back pain and joint problems
• Mental-health conditions such as anxiety, depression and stress
• Cancer and extended treatment or recovery
• Cardiovascular conditions such as heart attacks and strokes
• Surgery and post-operative recovery
• Respiratory, neurological and accident-related conditions

Cirencester Friendly vs the wider UK market

Cirencester is most often shortlisted alongside one or more of these six competitors. None are bad insurers — but they sit in different positions, and the right answer depends on your job, age and income shape.

Cirencester Friendly vs other UK income protection providers

• vs Aviva — Aviva has a higher benefit ceiling; Cirencester wins on higher-risk occupations and smokers thanks to flat-rated underwriting
• vs LV= — LV= often marginally cheaper for desk jobs; Cirencester wins on hazardous occupations and deferred-period flexibility
• vs Royal London — broadly similar mechanics; Royal London's claims data is less granular and they tend to be more expensive for self-employed cases
• vs British Friendly — the closest like-for-like; British Friendly's Breathing Space removes financial underwriting; Cirencester wins on day-one and one-week deferred-period choices
• vs The Exeter — The Exeter specialises in medical professionals and high-risk occupations; Cirencester is more cost-competitive for the wider population
• vs Vitality — Vitality rewards wellness engagement via points-based discounts; Cirencester is simpler for anyone who'd rather the cover not depend on a smartphone

There is no universal 'best' UK income protection provider. The same monthly premium can buy materially different value, and the right call depends on insurer-specific underwriting decisions for your circumstances. A like-for-like quote run is the only honest answer.

Compare Cirencester with the wider market »

Underwriting quirks worth knowing about

A few practical points about how Cirencester Friendly income protection actually underwrites that come up regularly in broker conversations:

• Motorsport is the only loaded hobby — competitive racing of any kind sits outside the flat-rated treatment and may attract loadings or exclusions
• BMI and lifestyle questions are still asked — smoking and hazardous occupation don't load premiums, but BMI outside the typical range and disclosed alcohol use above guidelines can still affect the underwriting decision
• Self-employed earnings are evidenced via accounts — typically the last two years' net profit and dividends; a broker can sense-check this before submission
• Underwriting decisions are not portable — a loading or exclusion at another insurer doesn't automatically apply at Cirencester Friendly; sometimes a parallel application produces a cleaner offer here
• The 'suited tasks' definition applies post-retirement age — if you continue the policy beyond your selected retirement age, the definition narrows from your specific job to broader suited tasks

Cancelling, switching or topping up your cover

Cancelling. Cirencester Friendly has a 30-day cooling-off period from the policy start date — cancel within it and any premiums paid are refunded. Cancellations after 30 days end the policy from the date of the request with no refund. Contact Cirencester Friendly directly on 0800 587 5098 or info@cirencester-friendly.co.uk; the request has to come from you, not your broker.

Switching. Never cancel an existing policy before a replacement is in force. Wait until the new policy is fully underwritten, premiums are taken, and cover is confirmed active in writing. Health changes between cancellation and the new policy starting can leave you uninsurable.

Topping up after a life event. Cirencester Friendly's guaranteed insurability option lets you increase the benefit amount without further medical underwriting following marriage, civil partnership, birth or adoption of a child, an increase in mortgage, or a significant salary uplift. Time limits typically apply (three to six months from the event), so flag it to your broker promptly.

Where Cirencester Friendly is a good shortlist

When comparing Cirencester Friendly with other providers, key factors to consider:

• Premium cost - compare the personalised quote with like-for-like cover
• Policy features - Compare deferred periods, payment periods, and definitions of incapacity
• Financial strength - Check insurer's credit rating and claims-paying ability
• Customer service - Review Trustpilot scores and claims processing times
• Flexibility - Ability to adjust cover as circumstances change
• Exclusions - What conditions or circumstances aren't covered

Compare Cirencester Friendly's personalised premium, cover definition, exclusions and policy terms with other available providers.

LifePro's comparison includes Cirencester Friendly alongside a wide range of other UK providers, helping you find the balance of cost, cover and service.

Compare Cirencester Friendly with Other Providers »

Cirencester Friendly claims statistics and transparency

Claims data changes over time and should be read alongside the policy terms, exclusions and definition of incapacity.

What this transparency means for you:

• You can see exactly how many claims were paid vs declined
• Understand the most common reasons for claims (illness types)
• Review average claim durations and payment amounts
• Assess the insurer's commitment to paying legitimate claims
• Make informed decisions based on real data, not marketing promises

Why claims statistics matter: Many insurers don't publish detailed claims data, making it hard to judge their true claims-paying performance. Cirencester Friendly's openness demonstrates they have nothing to hide and are committed to member value.

Common reasons for income protection claims across the industry:

1. Musculoskeletal conditions: Back pain, joint problems and arthritis
2. Mental health: Depression, anxiety and stress
3. Cancer: Cancer requiring extended treatment
4. Cardiovascular disease: Heart attacks, strokes and related conditions
5. Other illnesses: Respiratory, neurological, and various other conditions

Cirencester Friendly's member-owned structure means they're incentivised to pay legitimate claims fairly and quickly. There are no shareholders demanding profit maximisation at the expense of policyholders.

When reviewing any income protection provider, ask about their claims statistics. Providers who are transparent about claims data tend to have stronger claims-paying track records.

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