Based on the linked source; automatically prepared and checked against the original report.
Redundancy exclusion
Section 161 of the Employment Rights Act 1996 excludes domestic workers employed by close family members from statutory redundancy pay. Surewise says this can leave relatives who have provided paid care for years without a payout when the person they support dies or enters inpatient care, while an unrelated personal assistant in a similar role may qualify.
Calls for national guidance
Surewise also wants clearer national guidance on employing relatives through direct payments. In England, relatives outside the household can be employed, while those living with the person generally require local-authority approval that employment is necessary to meet care needs. The intermediary says this discretion creates uncertainty and inconsistent decisions between councils.
Different UK approaches
The organisation points to differing approaches elsewhere in the UK. Welsh guidance recognises that a same-household relative may sometimes be the most appropriate carer, although councils must still establish necessity. Scotland allows family members to provide paid support with safeguards and without the same necessity test, according to Surewise.
Wider workforce pressure
The campaign comes as England’s adult social care sector faces about 96,000 vacancies, according to Skills for Care. Surewise also cites an estimate that roughly 410,000 additional posts may be needed by 2040, while the closure of the care worker visa route to new overseas applicants in July 2025 has increased recruitment challenges.
