Over 1 in 10 self-employed workers are unpaid carers, yet government support remains scarce
Half a million and counting self-employed individuals in the UK are unpaid carers, shouldering immense responsibilities with little support, reveals a new report by IPSE (the Association of Independent Professionals and the Self-Employed).
Unpaid care is a concern for all of us
With the average lifespan increasing, the chances of more of us becoming a carer for an elderly relative is growing. Nearly a million more people will have caring responsibilities by 2035, new research has revealed. The Joseph Rowntree Foundation warns that the UK faces a “crisis of care” as people are getting older and living with illnesses for longer.
The IPSE report paints a stark picture of the challenges faced by self-employed unpaid carers, who provide essential care to family members or friends while navigating the demands of running their own businesses. Shockingly, only 8% of these self-employed carers receive Carer’s Allowance, a vital financial lifeline, due to stringent eligibility criteria that fail to recognize the complexities of their situation.
The report highlights the significant contribution self-employed carers make to our society and economy, often at great personal cost. The flexibility of self-employment can be crucial for those balancing caregiving with work, but the report reiterates it also comes with unique challenges.
Are clients showing compassion?
Many carers reported struggling with client misunderstandings due to caregiving commitments, difficulty managing business administration alongside care duties, and a lack of access to crucial financial support. The report argues that the current system, with its rigid rules and lack of understanding, is failing these individuals.
The vast majority of care in the UK is provided not by doctors, nurses or care workers but by family and friends. Most people will either need care, or become an unpaid carer in their lifetime. The most recent Census recorded the number of unpaid carers at 5.7 million – meaning one in ten (10%) of the nation’s population were providing unpaid care in 2021.
Women are more likely to become carers and to provide more hours of unpaid care than men, often at the expense of their careers.
Support: where is it?
Despite the support for unpaid carers now being worth £162 billion a year – an increase of 29 per cent since 2011–IPSE says this often fails to translate into public policy recognition and support.
Research from Carers Trust revealed that 91 per cent of unpaid family carers felt ignored by the government and 86 per cent agreed that successive governments have ignored the needs of unpaid carers for a long time.
Similarly, relatively little is known about those who are self-employed and unpaid carers. The Census indicates there are 445,000 unpaid self-employed carers operating in the UK – comprising eight per cent of all unpaid carers.
The IPSE report suggests these individuals benefit from the autonomy and flexibility provided by self-employment, but becoming an unpaid carer can also put plans for personal or business development on hold. Concerningly, being a self-employed carer also means that you’re twice as likely to be in poverty compared to employee counterparts.
Carer’s Allowance is a means-tested benefit that is paid to those who spend at least 35 hours a week caring for someone with an illness or disability. It’s paid at a rate of £81.90 per week (rising to £83.29 from April 2025).
However, the current benefit is unavailable to those who earn more than £151 per week (rising to £196 from April 2025) after certain deductions such as tax, national insurance and some expenses.
“Unlike employers – who are more likely to establish a dialogue with employees with caring responsibilities and implement adjustments – clients may not be as flexible when caring responsibilities impact on project delivery,” says the report.
IPSE’s Joshua Toovey says,
Similarly, we also heard from some freelancers that they have been overlooked for a role because the client preferred to go with another freelancer that didn’t have the caring responsibilities.
In contrast, some freelancers reported that they didn’t usually disclose their caring role to potential clients. This in turn caused difficulties for some when delivering a project or piece of work whilst additional caring responsibilities were required.
Toovey says IPSE is calling on the government to introduce a respite care allowance for those with self-employed commitments and for those unable to work through their own business.
“We’re also calling on local councils to utilise community work hubs, co-working venues or online services to provide networking days for unpaid self-employed carers, where they can benefit from free financial advice and the support of other carers. Similarly, we want to see government change the eligibility requirements for Carers Allowance so that those caring for 20-35 hours can access this benefit,” says Toovey.
Next steps
- Increased awareness and understanding: Educating clients, businesses, and the public about the challenges faced by self-employed carers.
- Improved access to financial support: Reviewing the eligibility criteria for Carer’s Allowance to ensure it reflects the reality of self-employed carers.
- Targeted support services: Providing tailored advice and resources for self-employed carers to help them manage their businesses and caring responsibilities effectively.
As more people in the UK turn to self-employment, our society needs to support unpaid carers in all their forms. Recognising the unique challenges faced by self-employed carers is a crucial step towards creating a more inclusive and supportive environment for all.
