Research reveals protection gap for families employing carers

Households employing carers at home could be facing a significant insurance protection gap, with many families appearing to misunderstand their legal responsibilities and the cover they may need, according to new research from specialist insurance intermediary Surewise.

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.
• 66% believe they already have the right insurance in place and 72% say they understand their legal responsibilities when employing or engaging a carer.
• However, only 42% say they have employers' liability insurance.
• 33% have never checked whether their policy covers carers working in their home.
• 10% say they have no insurance in place at all.

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.

Employers’ liability insurance can cover claims and legal costs if a carer is injured at work – protection not typically included in standard home insurance.

Surewise also commissioned a separate survey of 250 UK self-employed carers, which highlights how commonplace workplace injuries can be, and suggests uncertainty extends across both sides of the care relationship.

The research found:

• 91% had experienced an injury or near miss during their career.
• 48% had suffered a serious injury.
• 45% believe carers would be legally responsible if a client was injured because of the care they provided, while 45% believe responsibility would rest with the household, and 10% believe liability would be shared.
• 37% say insurance is too complicated, and 28% are unsure what insurance they need.
• 29% do not know where to obtain appropriate cover.

The findings suggest there is an opportunity for insurers and brokers to improve consumer understanding of employers' liability and public liability insurance, particularly as demand for privately arranged home care continues to grow alongside the UK's ageing population.

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]

Stuart Bensusan, director at Surewise, said: "Our research shows there is confusion on both sides of the relationship. Households aren't always clear about their responsibilities and many don’t see themselves as employers, while carers themselves remain uncertain about liability and the insurance that's appropriate for the way they work.

“For households, it’s important not to rely on how a carer describes their employment status. Someone who invoices as self-employed could later be found to have been an employee in the eyes of the court, potentially leaving households exposed if they don't have appropriate cover.

"As home care continues to increase, improving awareness of responsibilities on both sides will be essential to avoid gaps in protection and ensure both families and carers are properly supported."

Surewise is encouraging households employing carers and self-employed carers alike to review their insurance arrangements regularly, understand their legal responsibilities and seek specialist advice where appropriate, rather than assuming existing policies automatically provide the cover they need.

For more information, 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 and 250 UK self-employed carers and domiciliary care workers. 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.