Annex A: Further sources of information of support received by unpaid carers in Scotland

This report analyses self-reported measures of support needs and support received by carers in Scotland. However, as discussed in the Data and Methods section, the HACE sample may over-represent the experience of carers who provide the highest number of caring hours per week.

The HACE survey reports a higher proportion of carers providing the highest number of caring hours per week (50+ hours) than the Scottish Health Survey (SHeS), and this finding was consistent across all age-groups, with the most pronounced difference being seen in the oldest age-groups (75+). As such, considering alternative sources available can help gain a broader understanding of support received by carers in Scotland. Below is a summary of other data sources that also provide insights into carer support:

Scottish Health Survey

The Scottish Health Survey (SHeS) is a voluntary questionnaire designed to survey a representative sample of the population. SHeS has been conducted annually since 2008 and prior to this was conducted in 1995, 1998 and 2003. An annual report is published for each year of the survey (the latest published being the 2024 results). The 4-year combined SHeS dataset (inclusive of 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024) is reported here, because combining the four years of survey data gives a larger total sample size, which enables us to draw more robust statistical conclusions.

According to the SHeS 2021-2024, 65% of carers aged 16 and above who responded to the question on support received, reported receiving no caring support – however, SHeS does not provide insight on how many of those who receive no support consider themselves to have an unmet need. This is a slightly higher proportion of people receiving no support than reported in HACE (53%), however there is evidence that the HACE sample may overrepresent carers providing more intensive caring roles, which conceivably may be more likely to require, and receive, support. We know from HACE that this 53% of carers who reported receiving no support contains 17% who feel that they need some.

The most common types of support reported are help from family and friends (21%), carer’s allowance (9%) and advice and information (6%), similar to previous years.

The SHeS data generally indicated that men and women reported receiving different types of support for caring at similar rates, which is consistent with the findings in HACE (see Section 3).

The SHeS findings suggest that a large proportion of carers are not receiving any support for their caring roles, however it is not clear from SHeS alone whether these carers do not receive support because they do not need it, or whether they have an unmet need for support.

The figures also suggest that informal support networks including family and friends are important in supporting carers, emphasising the prominence of the informal care system.

When support for carers is dependent on personal relationships, the ability to continue their caring role may depend in part on the willingness of others around them. This can create additional vulnerabilities, as disruptions to these informal networks may reduce the ability of carers to continue providing support, and increase the risk of unmet support needs of carers.

Carers Census

The Carers Census collects data from Local Authorities and Carers Centres representing a sub-population of carers who are in receipt of support from local services. This data is collected biennially, however due to known issues with data quality and completeness (discussed in the Data and Methodology section of the Carers Census report), the data is likely to represent an undercount of the true number of unpaid carers being supported by local services in Scotland.

Support needs

According to the Carers Census 2023-24, only 11% of carers with information on support available had indicated that no help or support was needed. This is a slightly different measure than what is reported on in this analysis of HACE 2025-26 data, where 38% of all carers surveyed reported that they did not need support; as it addresses a small subsection of carers who are in contact with local services and have access to information on the support available. Since the Carers Census addresses carers who already receive support, it is conceivable that a higher proportion of carers reported in the Carers Census would report needing support compared to the HACE, which addresses all carers regardless of support needed or provided.

Where information on support needs was available in the Carers Census, the majority of carers indicated needing advice and information (64%) and short breaks or respite care (52%), with counselling and emotional support being identified as a support need for a third of carers (33%). This is broadly similar to findings from 2022-23.

Support received

According to Carers Census 2023-24, the majority of carers in receipt of support from local services reported receiving advice and information (72% of carers). Further, 40% of carers indicated receiving short break or respite support, and 31% of carers reported receiving counselling or emotional support. This is broadly consistent with findings from 2022-23.

Although the Carers Census reports on carers support needs as well as support received, the current data is unable to determine whether the types of support received are sufficient to meet these needs. Higher proportions of carers reported needing short break or respite support (52%) than those receiving support of this type (40%), indicating that some support needs may extend beyond the level of support being currently provided, however wider insights on unmet need are limited.

Together, these sources suggest a substantial proportion of carers are receiving no support; however, it is not clear how many of these would consider themselves to have an unmet support need. It also suggests that the support carers need and the support they receive may not align, but largely leaves open the question of whether carers who do currently receive support consider their needs to be met. This highlights the importance of understanding both carers’ access to support, and whether that support is deemed sufficient to meet carers’ needs.