Thousands of households risk costly claims over care insurance gaps

More than three quarters of UK households that employ carers at home could be unknowingly uninsured and exposed to significant financial risk if a carer makes a claim against them, according to new research.

A survey of 250 UK households employing carers found:

• 78% believe their home insurance would cover them if a carer was injured while working in their home – yet standard home insurance does not typically include employers’ liability cover.
• 72% say they understand their legal responsibilities when employing or engaging a carer…
• …But only 42% have employers’ liability insurance, which protects households with compensation, legal defence costs and associated expenses if they are found to be legally liable for a carer’s injury.
• 33% had never checked with their insurer whether their policy covers carers or personal assistants, despite the reality of the risk for carers.
• 10% have no insurance in place at all.

The research, commissioned by specialist insurance provider Surewise, highlights a significant knowledge gap around carers’ employment status and household liability.

As more families arrange care directly, many are becoming employers for the first time –often without realising it or understanding the legal and insurance responsibilities involved.

Surewise also commissioned a separate survey of 250 UK self-employed carers, which highlights how commonplace workplace injuries can be. The research found:

• 91% had experienced an injury or near miss during their career.
• 48% had suffered a serious injury.

The findings come as Britain is seeing an ageing population, with demand for home care expected to increase. According to the Office for National Statistics, the number of people aged 85 and over is projected to double by mid-2049 to 3.6 million, accounting for almost 5% of the total population.

Skills for Care reports that around 67,000 people in England directly employ their own personal assistants through social care direct payments, while many more families arrange care in their homes privately.[1]

Surewise is encouraging families to review their insurance policies and ensure they understand their legal responsibilities – and not to rely on how a carer describes their employment status.

Stuart Bensusan, director at Surewise, said: “More families are hiring carers directly to look after loved ones, often becoming employers for the first time without realising the legal responsibilities that come with it. Standard home insurance does not necessarily include employers’ liability cover, so it’s important to check you have the right protection in place.

“Employment status is determined by the reality of the working relationship, not simply how someone describes themselves. A carer who considers themselves self-employed could still be found to be an employee in the eyes of the law, making employers’ liability cover particularly important. Understanding your responsibilities now can help avoid significant legal and financial costs if something goes wrong, as compensation claims can be substantial.”

For more information, please visit: www.surewise.com

[1] Skills for Care – Individual employers and the personal assistant workforce 2025, page 6

Ends

Editors notes

Research was conducted by Censuswide for Surewise in June 2026, among a sample of 250 UK households who hire carers/PAs. Censuswide is a member of the Market Research Society (MRS) and the British Polling Council (BPC), and a signatory of the Global Data Quality Pledge. It adheres to the MRS Code of Conduct and ESOMAR principles.

For more information, please contact:

Fran Herring, Rose Lock or Alex Hankinson

Midnight Communications

surewise@midnight.co.uk

T: 01273 666 200

About Surewise

Surewise is a leading specialist insurance intermediary which offers a variety of insurance products, including mobility, carers and storage insurance to customers across the UK.

Surewise provides insurance through a partnership with underwriters SAGIC, the Salvation Army General Insurance Corporation, whose profits support Salvation Army charities and give back to vulnerable members of society, including people experiencing homelessness, human trafficking, poverty and unemployment.

Based in Hadleigh in Essex, its growing team is united by a passion to build trust, care and fairness within the insurance sector.

As of 2026, Surewise has more than 15,000 reviews on Trustpilot, with an overall 'Excellent' rating of 4.8.