Census 2022 – Ensuring we #CountCarersIn on 20 March 2022

The census is taking place on 20 March 2022 and we want to ensure that everyone looking after someone else identifies as an unpaid carer when completing their form. This is hugely important because the census provides a vital opportunity for the number of carers, and their caring situations, to be officially recognised and better understood.

Census 2022 will inform decisions on services that shape our communities, such as healthcare, education and transport, and it also provides a more accurate and up to date figure for the number of carers in Scotland. Census findings are used widely by national and local government and many others – including national and local carers organisations.

The opportunity to complete the census only comes around once every 10 years in Scotland these figures will provide a very important update.

There is a specific question (question 12 in Scotland) which asks whether you look after, or give help or support to someone else – and the number of hours per week that you care for.

The National Records of Scotland (NRS) runs the Census in Scotland. Your details are protected by law and information published is always anonymous.

Census 2022 will be the first digital-first census in Scotland.

You will receive information from the NRS about filling in the census, including how to order a paper questionnaire if you cannot complete it online. Find out more here

Scams
Ahead of the census in 2022, it is likely that scams pretending to be the census will increase. Some scams may involve letters, text messages and emails demanding payment of a fake £1000 fine.

A common scam is a message that claims information is missing from your census or that there are errors in your submission which need to be confirmed.

These are fake requests from scammers.

How to spot a scam
Scams almost always ask you for either:
• payment of money for a fine or fee
• personal financial information, such as your national insurance number, bank details, or debit and credit card details

You will never be asked for money or personal financial information to complete Scotland’s Census 2022. So if you do receive something asking for these, you can be sure it is a scam.

If you receive anything suspicious that claims to be from the census, you should contact:
• Police Scotland on 101
• Advice Direct Scotland (ADS) on 0808 164 6000 or dataprotection@nrscotland.gov.uk