Six in 10 would even delay or skip treatment following an injury because of money worries, new research reveals
Almost four in five Brits would return to work sooner than medically advised following an accident or injury because of financial pressure, new research has revealed.
A study of 2,000 UK adults on behalf of national law firm Simpson Millar found 78% would be likely to return to work sooner than medically advised if an accident or injury left them unable to work.
The research paints a worrying picture of how financial pressures can affect recovery following an accident or injury. For almost a third (30%), the pressure is strong, with respondents saying they would be very likely to return to work before medically advised because of the financial impact of being off. Two thirds (67%) are concerned about how they would cope financially if an injury meant they could not work, while 62% are concerned about their ability to stay afloat following a sudden loss of income.
Money worries could also affect whether people seek or continue with treatment, with three in five (60%) saying financial pressure to get back to work would make them skip or delay treatment following an injury, such as physiotherapy or rest. Of those, 16% said they would definitely skip or delay treatment because of financial pressure, while 44% said they would probably do so.
For many, putting their health at risk because they cannot afford time away from work is reality. Almost four in 10 (39%) said they have already risked their health at work because they could not afford to take time off.
The pressure to get back to work early appears to be greatest among younger people, with almost nine in 10 (88%) 18 to 24 year olds saying they would return sooner than medically advised following an accident or injury because of financial pressure. This compares to 65% of those aged 55 and over.
Younger people are also more likely to say financial pressure would affect their treatment, with almost three quarters (74%) of 18 to 24 year olds saying money worries would make them skip or delay treatment following an injury, compared to half (50%) of over 55s.
The research also revealed differences across the country. People in the South West were most likely to say they would return to work before medically advised, at 84%, compared to 67% in the North East.
The South West also had the highest proportion who would skip or delay treatment because of financial pressure, at 73%, compared to 50% in Northern Ireland.
At city level, nine in 10 (90%) people in Bristol said they would be likely to return to work earlier than medically advised because of money worries, the highest figure recorded in the survey, while 77% said financial pressure would make them skip or delay treatment.
Women were also more concerned about the financial impact of being unable to work following an injury, with almost three quarters (74%) worried about how they would cope compared to 61% of men.
Liverpool recorded the highest level of financial concern, with four in five (80%) people in the city worried about coping financially if an injury left them unable to work, compared to a national average of 67%.
Susan Vanden, Partner in the Personal Injury team at Simpson Millar, said: “An accident or injury can happen without warning, and alongside the physical impact, there’s often a financial one too. Our research shows just how much money worries are shaping recovery decisions, with people returning to work too soon or delaying treatment, which can risk making a difficult situation harder. Nobody should have to choose between their health and paying their bills.
“Where an accident or injury wasn’t your fault and was caused by someone else’s negligence, you may be able to make a personal injury claim. Compensation isn’t just about the injury itself. It can also cover financial losses like loss of earnings, and help meet the costs of treatment and rehabilitation. In serious injury cases, interim payments may even be available before a claim concludes, easing financial pressure while it’s ongoing to ensure the focus is on recovery.”
