Well over two in five (45%) UK adults have been out of work for up to a year, and for one in ten (10%) it has been longer than 12 months. An estimated 131 million working days were lost due to sickness or injury in the UK last year. Although unemployment is falling, recent ONS figures also showed that 1.36 million adults remained without work in July, and this number does not account for people who are temporarily off due to sickness or injury, so in reality the number could be much higher.
The report found that over a third (34%) do not feel financially resilient and they would not be able to manage a financial shock or unexpected loss of income on their own. As a result, one in eight (13%) would have to sell their family home if they lost their income because of sickness or injury. More than a quarter (26%) would have to sell possessions, while one in seven (14%) would have to find a cheaper place to rent.
UK adults would have to do the following if they lost their income to sickness of injury:
1. Relying on savings for the short term (i.e. less than 6 months) – 40%
2. Finding a second job that I could do with my illness/ injury – 39%
3. Selling other possessions (e.g. any valuables, etc.) – 26%
4. Relying on savings for the long term (i.e. 6 months or longer) – 23%
5. My partner would start work/ increase their hours – 18%
6. Selling my car – 17%
7. Moving in with friends or relatives – 16%
8. Finding a cheaper place to rent – 14%
9. Selling my home – 13%
10. Getting a lodger – 11%
The study also found that despite half of adults experiencing unexpected leave from work, nine in ten (92%) don’t have Income protection cover, a financial product that shields your pay against being unable to work because of illness or injury. One in six (17%) have no disposable income and a quarter (24%) have no savings to fall back on.
Rose St Louis of Zurich UK comments: “It’s concerning that so many people have experienced unexpected time out of work, yet have no safety net in place for this potentially happening again. Even more shocking is the number who would have to resort to selling their home, as this action could have a significant impact on the whole family.
“Lack of savings and planning the family finances is putting millions of adults at risk of not being financially resilient, but not taking action could make the situation far worse. Putting the ‘it won’t happen to me’ view to one side, it’s vital that people review their circumstances, to see what support exists to protect their finances and lifestyle.”
Dr Jack Lewis, Neuroscientist comments: “The findings demonstrate the very real impact that a period of being unable to work can have. We have a tendency to prefer items that we can enjoy immediately over and above valuable things that we have to wait for, even when the latter adds greater value to our lives overall. A financial product that pays your salary when you are too ill to work is a strange and perhaps counter-intuitive concept. So, we need to educate people to help them understand that such support exists; products that ease the stress and anxiety stemming from the threat of an unanticipated loss of income.”
The Cost of Resilience report has been developed with neuroscientist Dr. Jack Lewis, the report examines the impact that money, including having products designed to protect and insure against loss, have on feelings of resilience.
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