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Young, not invincible: PPS sees rise in claims from graduate professionals under 35

Johannesburg, 07 July 2025 – We often think of serious illness or permanent incapacity as something that comes with age, the unfortunate byproduct of decades in the workplace and lifestyle choices. But new data from PPS, the financial services group focused exclusively on graduate professionals, is challenging this long-standing assumption.

In 2024 alone, PPS paid out nearly R97 million in claims to members aged 35 and under, nearly double the R50 million paid in 2019. This younger cohort is emerging as a surprising – and concerning – driver of claims for sickness and permanent incapacity benefits, with a noticeable increase in cases related to physical trauma, mental health, musculoskeletal disorders and even critical illnesses like cancer.

The statistics paint a sobering picture:

14% of sickness benefit claims were related to diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue, typically associated with physical strain or poor ergonomic habits. This reflects a notable increase from 2019, when just 12% of sickness claims among young members were for musculoskeletal issues.

In 2024, 28% of critical illness claims by young graduate professionals were for cancer – a staggering figure for a demographic often considered low-risk. This is an increase from 27% in 2019, showing a consistent and troubling trend.

Mental health challenges among young adults are on the rise worldwide, with conditions like depression, anxiety and behavioural disorders emerging as significant contributors to illness and disability within this age group. This troubling trend may be influenced by factors such as the pervasive impact of social media, experiences of loneliness and the growing prevalence of cyberbullying, all of which can profoundly affect young people’s well-being. 8% of all claims were linked to mental health, with a clear upward trend in incidence as graduate professionals age. However, younger individuals are far from immune.

Adding to this, sickness benefit claims among members under 35 have more than doubled – from just 8% in 2019 to 19% in 2024 – a shift that reflects changing health realities. Notably, respiratory system diseases have emerged as the top cause of sickness claims in this age group, rising from 8% in 2019 to 14% in 2024.

Mental health is everyone’s problem — and it is hitting leadership, too

While mental health claims are relatively evenly split between men and women, their occupational distribution is telling. Senior roles like general managers, chief financial officers and strategic consultants show some of the highest proportions of claims related to mental health, up to 71% in some instances. Even early-career professionals, such as academics and IT specialists, are prominently represented among the top mental health claimants, highlighting that no career stage or sector is immune.

This is not just about work stress; it is about the emotional toll of constant connectivity, pressure to succeed and increasingly blurred boundaries between work and life, realities that affect both the 28-year-old marketing manager and the 58-year-old CFO.

Rethinking what it means to be “covered”

“This data demands a shift in how we define risk and protection, prompting us to ask: is it time to rethink not just what risk looks like, but who we believe needs protection the most”, says Motshabi Nomvethe, Head of Technical Marketing at PPS Life Solutions. “We cannot keep thinking of incapacity and serious illness as something that only concerns people in their 50s or 60s. Young graduate professionals are dealing with real, life-altering conditions that affect their ability to work, and they need to be part of the protection conversation from day one.”

PPS’s suite of benefits, including sickness, permanent incapacity and critical illness cover, is designed to support graduate professionals at every career stage. But beyond products, this data drives a deeper imperative: to understand how health and professional life intersect in modern times.

A new reality for a new workforce

Whether it is physical trauma in a high-stress job, back pain from poor posture and long hours, or the mental load of doing too much with too little support, today’s graduate professionals are grappling with complex, intertwined health risks.

The rise in claims among young adults mirrors broader trends observed globally, with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the US noting increasing rates of lifestyle-related illnesses among 20- and 30-somethings. Factors like increased stress, sedentary habits, fast-paced work environments and the delayed transition into stable adulthood all contribute.

As Nomvethe puts it, “The idea that you can put off thinking about risk cover until you are older simply does not hold anymore. Incapacity is not defined by age – it is defined by reality. And that reality is changing. For young people, the greatest act of self-care is to take charge of their health, mind, body and finances today, so they can build the future they deserve with confidence and resilience, because the future doesn’t wait until you’re ready.”