LV= has paid out over £12m in Coronavirus-related claims to more than 1,400 life, critical illness and income protection insurance policyholders and families since the start of the pandemic.

For Coronavirus death claims, the youngest person covered was 44 with the average age of deaths at 67.

Coronavirus was responsible for 42% of all LV= death claims in January 2021, with the number of admitted death claims 40% higher than in January 2020.

The protection provider paid 332 Coronavirus-related claims for policyholders with personal sick pay and income protection policies, paying out over £146,000.

The most common occupations of claimants were nurses, care workers, carpenters, warehouse and factory workers.

The protection provider paid its first Coronavirus pandemic-related claim on 16 March 2020.

Debbie Kennedy, director of protection at LV=, said: “The Covid-19 pandemic has been devastating. It is having a huge impact on people and we expect to see the effects on claims lasting for several years. Not only have people been affected directly by the virus, millions of people around the UK are struggling with mental health issues caused by isolation, coping with lockdown and financial worries.

“I am a strong believer that protection insurance is not only about paying claims; it’s about supporting customers when they are at their most vulnerable and proving emotional and practical support when they need it.”