您作为护理者的权利
If you provide regular unpaid care to a family member, friend, or neighbour who is ill, disabled, or elderly, you are a carer in the eyes of the law. Around 5 million people in the UK are unpaid carers. You have important legal rights under the Care Act 2014, the Equality Act 2010, and employment legislation. These rights are designed to ensure that your own needs are met and that you are not disadvantaged because of your caring responsibilities.
Last updated: 2026-03-01
Your Rights
Right to a Carer's Assessment
You have the right to a carer's assessment from your local authority if it appears you have needs for support. The assessment must consider whether you are able and willing to continue caring, the impact of caring on your wellbeing, and your own needs (including work, education, and leisure). The local authority must then decide whether your needs are eligible for support.
Right to Request Flexible Working
All employees with 26 weeks' continuous employment have the right to request flexible working, and employers must deal with requests in a reasonable manner. Carers frequently use this right to adjust their working patterns around caring responsibilities. From April 2024, employees can make two requests per year and can make a request from day one of employment.
Right to Time Off for Dependants
You have the right to take a reasonable amount of unpaid time off work to deal with an emergency involving a dependant — for example, if the person you care for falls ill, is injured, or if their usual care arrangements break down.
Right to Carer's Allowance
If you provide care for at least 35 hours per week to someone receiving certain disability benefits, you may be entitled to Carer's Allowance (currently £81.90 per week). You must be 16 or over, not in full-time education, and earning no more than £151 per week after deductions.
Protection from Discrimination
Carers may be protected from discrimination under the Equality Act 2010 — for example, discrimination by association (where you are treated unfavourably because of the disability of the person you care for), or indirect sex discrimination (as the majority of carers are women).
Common Myths
You have to be a family member to be a carer
The Care Act 2014 defines a carer as anyone who provides or intends to provide care for another adult. This includes friends, neighbours, and anyone providing regular unpaid care — you do not have to be related.
Carer's Allowance is generous enough to live on
Carer's Allowance is one of the lowest benefits, currently £81.90 per week. Many carers supplement this with Universal Credit or other means-tested benefits. The earnings limit is also very low (£151/week).
What To Do
Request a Carer's Assessment
Contact your local authority's adult social services department and ask for a carer's assessment. This is free and you are entitled to one regardless of the financial situation of the person you care for.
Check Your Benefit Entitlements
Check whether you are entitled to Carer's Allowance and whether it would affect your other benefits. Use an online benefits calculator (e.g., Turn2us or Entitledto) to check your full entitlements.
Know Your Employment Rights
If you are working, speak to your employer about flexible working. You are legally protected from dismissal or detriment for taking time off for dependants or requesting flexible working.
Key Legislation
- Care Act 2014
- Employment Rights Act 1996
- Equality Act 2010
- Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992