We are committed to building benefits solutions that meet the needs of independent workers — and that starts with hearing directly from you. This survey is designed to help us understand how independent workers access benefits, what barriers you face, and what solutions would make the biggest difference in your work and life. It should take approximately 10-12 minutes to complete.

Your responses are confidential. All results will be reported and shared in aggregate form only — no individual responses will ever be shared or published, and your answers will not be linked back to you personally. This survey is hosted on SurveyMonkey, which maintains its own privacy and data security standards. Data will be retained only as long as necessary for this research.

You may skip any question you prefer not to answer and you may stop at any time. Incomplete responses are still valuable and will be included in our analysis where possible. This survey asks about income, benefits, and demographics. These questions are optional but your answers, even approximate ones, help us better understand and advocate for the full diversity of our membership.

Thank you for your time!
Section 1: About Your Work

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* 1. How many years have you been working independently?

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* 2. Which of the following occupations describe the work you do? Select all that apply.

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* 3. Of the occupations you selected above, which one represents the largest share of your work? Select one.

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* 4. How do you earn income?

For each income source below, select the percentage that best represents its share of your total annual income. Select 0% for any sources that do not apply to you. Selections should approximately total 100%.

  Percent of your income
Full-time employment (W-2, single employer)
Part-time employment (W-2, one or more employers)
Independent contractor or freelance work, including sole proprietors, single-member LLCs, and S-corps (1099, direct client contracts)
Platform-based work (Uber, TaskRabbit, Upwork, Fiverr, etc.)
Temporary or seasonal work (through a staffing agency or short-term employer)
Passive income (rental properties, investments, royalties, licensing fees)
Product sales (physical or digital, handmade, manufactured, resold, or otherwise)
Government benefits or transfers (Social Security, disability, unemployment, veterans benefits, etc.)

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* 5. What was your total individual income from all sources before taxes in the most recent full calendar year?

Include all income you personally earned or received in 2025 from any source. Do not include income earned by other members of your household.

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* 6. How many different clients or employers did you work with in the past 12 months?

Section 2: Current Benefits Coverage

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* 7. Which of the following benefits do you currently have? Select all that apply.

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* 8. Which benefits do you need, but don't have? Select all that apply.

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* 9. If you currently have health insurance, how do you access it?

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* 10. If you have health insurance, approximately how much do you pay per month for coverage? Include monthly premium only; skip if not applicable.

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* 11. Do you currently contribute to any retirement savings account? Select all that apply.

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* 12. Which three benefits are most important to you personally, regardless of whether you currently have them? Select up to three.

Section 3: Challenges Accessing Benefits

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* 13. How challenging has it been for you to access the benefits you need as an independent worker?

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* 14. How significant is each of the following as a barrier to accessing the benefits you need as an independent worker?

For each item, rate how much of a barrier it has been for you personally, regardless of whether you currently have that benefit.

  Not a barrier Minor barrier Moderate barrier Major barrier N/A - Doesn't apply to me
Cost or affordability of premiums and contributions
Inconsistent or unpredictable income makes it hard to budget for benefits
Lack of employer or client contributions
Difficulty finding options
Administrative burden of enrolling and managing benefits
Lack of portability across different jobs or clients
Tax burden or complexity
Inadequate quality or coverage of available options
Inability to take time away from work, even if I had benefits that would help financially

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* 15. What would make accessing benefits easier for you? Rank the following in order of importance.

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* 16. Approximately how much time per month do you spend managing your benefits (researching options, enrollment, paperwork, claims, etc.)?

Section 4: Opportunities for Portable Benefits

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* 17. If a portable benefits account (similar to a Health Savings Account or Flexible Savings Account) were available that allowed you to save for and purchase benefits with contributions from both you and your clients/employers, how interested would you be?

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* 18. What features would be most important to you in a portable benefits program? (Rank your choices, with the top being most important)

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* 19. Please share any additional thoughts about the challenges you face accessing benefits or what would help you most:

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* 20. What is your age?

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* 21. What is your gender identity?

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* 22. How do you identify your race/ethnicity? (Select all that apply)

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* 23. What is your zip code?

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* 24. Do you have dependents (children or other family members who rely on your income)?

Thank You!

Thank you for completing this survey. Your input will directly inform Freelancers Union's work to design portable benefits solutions that meet the real needs of independent workers.

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* 25. Would you be interested in participating in a follow-up interview to discuss your experiences in more depth?

Participants will receive a $25 gift card in appreciation of their time.

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