Working carers and pensions adequacy: What employers can do to help
Working carers are at particular risk of financial strain and can find it difficult to prepare for their own retirement.
Carers UK’s State of Caring 2025 report estimates that at least 5.8 million people in the UK are providing unpaid care. This care provision may result in carers being unable to afford to save into a workplace pension or being excluded from auto-enrolment as they fall below the minimum earnings threshold.
Carers UK found that a quarter (24%) of carers said they had cut back on, paused, or stopped paying into a pension because of the financial costs of care.
These findings underscore the opportunity for employers to strengthen support, from financial wellbeing tools to adaptable benefits.
Other groups of concern at risk of low retirement savings include women and low- and middle-income earners. The Pensions Commission’s interim report, Pensions 2050: Evidence and Future Priorities (2026), finds that without action, the number of people under-saving for retirement will increase.
The REBA roundtable report, Impact of ill-health and career breaks on pension adequacy, suggests that employers can help strengthen pension adequacy by expanding pension coverage to underrepresented groups and introducing financial wellbeing tools and adaptable benefits.
This can support carers to maintain financial stability, build for tomorrow and improve engagement and decision-making at retirement.
Download the full REBA roundtable Impact of ill-health and career breaks on pension adequacy report to find out more about:
- The mental health pressures driving long- and short-term absence and the impact on pension savings
- How financial strain risks are undermining future retirement adequacy for younger generations
- The major factors in pension opt-outs and how to support individuals
- The actions employers are taking to help employees achieve retirement adequacy
- How organisations can move towards a more preventative approach to employee wellbeing and health support to aid pension adequacy.
Supplied by REBA Associate Member, REBA
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