Quantitative research survey findings: indirect costs differentials

The average paid days lost, unpaid days lost and extra time costs of adults with FHS are described below. Results are presented without two outliers identified for extra time costs. Questions on paid days lost, unpaid days lost and extra time costs due to FHS were not asked of the non-FHS group because these questions were not relevant to them. Although these questions were asked as part of the FHS household survey, the respondents were asked to provide individual figures for them in relation to the main adult with FHS in the household. These The method used to monetise these outcomes is explained in Chapter 2.5.4.

The average number of paid days lost per year due to FHS for people living with FHS is 2.67 days. This average only includes 1,089 observations as there are 136 observations that did not provide a response. In addition, out of the 1,089 observations, there are 835 observations that did not lose any paid days per year. If these 835 observations are excluded, the average number of paid days lost per year for people living with FHS rises to 11.7 days over 254 observations. Using the annual national median income of £29,900 ^{(footnote 1)} and the average of 2.67 days, the cost of these paid days lost to people living with FHS in monetary terms (value of foregone earnings) is £307.05 per year ^{(footnote 2)}.

Table 7.1: Yearly cost of paid days lost due to FHS by FHS type (n = 1,089) in England, Northern Ireland, and Wales according to an FHS household survey conducted online between November 2020 and January 2021.

Table 7.1 shows that the FIO group have £5.37 and £239.254 higher costs of paid days lost per year than the FA and CD group, respectively, when including those that did not have any paid days lost due to FHS. Both the FA and FIO group have costs of unpaid days higher than the overall average.

The average number of unpaid days lost per year due to FHS for people living with FHS is 3.87 days. This average includes only 1,061 observations as there are 164 observations that did not provide a response. In addition, out of the 1,061 observations, there are 860 observations that did not lose any unpaid days due to FHS per year. If these 860 observations are excluded, the average number of paid days lost per year for people living with FHS increases to 20.44 days over 201 observations. Using the hourly national living / minimum wage and the average of 3.87 days, the cost of these unpaid days lost to people living with FHS can be calculated. The table below sets out the costs of unpaid days lost per year depending on different National Living Wage and Minimum Wage rates. These rates correspond to the different age groups or whether it is an apprenticeship.

Table 7.2: Costs of unpaid days lost per year calculated with different National Living Wage and Minimum Wage Rates, broken down by FHS type in England, Northern Ireland, and Wales according to an FHS household survey conducted online between November 2020 and January 2021 (n = 1,061).  Categorised by different age groups. 

Table 7.2 shows that those in the FA group have higher costs of unpaid days lost per year than those in the FIO and CD groups, when including those that did not have any unpaid days lost due to FHS. Both the FA and FIO groups have costs of unpaid days higher than the overall average.

Different sources were used to monetise paid and unpaid work because they are not considered equivalent. Additionally, there have been papers citing the use of hourly minimum wage to measure unpaid work, Care work and care jobs for the future of decent work (ILO, 2018). Although there is a ONS designed Unpaid Work calculator which calculates the value of each type of unpaid work (for example, childcare, housework, transport), we were unable to use this as the survey asked respondents in aggregate how many unpaid days they lost due to FHS, to reduce the response burden on participants. However it must be emphasised that although National Living Wage has been used as a measure of unpaid work, paid and unpaid work are not equivalent and entering into the labour market is probably not going to be a viable alternative use of unpaid work time/leisure time.

The average extra time spent per week for FHS related activities (these activities are detailed in Appendix 6) for people living with FHS is 6.21 hours. This average only includes 1,223 observations as there are 2 observations which are outliers (responses were more than 168 hours per week) and were removed. Out of the 1,223 observations, there are 6 observations that do not spend any extra time on FHS related activities. If these 6 observations are excluded, the average extra time spent per week for people living with FHS increases slightly to 6.24 hours per week. Using the hourly national living wage of £8.91 and the average of 6.21 hours per week, the cost of this extra time lost to people living with FHS in monetary terms is £55.33 per week ^{(footnote 4)}. This translates to a yearly spend of £2877.22.

Table 7.3: Weekly costs of extra time spent due to FHS broken down by FHS type (n = 1,223) in England, Northern Ireland, and Wales according to an FHS household survey conducted online between November 2020 and January 2021.

Table 7.3 shows that those in the FA group have higher costs from weekly extra time spent on FHS-related activities than those in the FIO and CD groups, when including those that did not spend any extra time. Both the FA and FIO groups have costs higher than the overall average.