Young carers and the Carer’s Leave Act: rights and support

The Carer’s Leave Act 2023 gives employees in England, Wales and Scotland up to one week of unpaid leave every 12 months to care for a dependant, from their first day in a job. Their job is protected while they take it. Young carers, meaning children under 18 who help look after a family member, have a separate right. In England, the council must assess their needs when it appears they may need support, or when they or a parent ask. From 16, a young carer who cares for 35 hours or more a week and is not in full-time education may get Carer’s Allowance of £86.45 a week.

In short

• Carer’s leave: up to one working week a year, unpaid, from day one of employment, in half days, whole days or a full week. It has applied since 6 April 2024.
• Notice: at least 3 days for a half or full day, otherwise at least twice the length of the leave. No evidence of the person’s care needs is needed.
• An employer cannot refuse carer’s leave, but can postpone it once for serious disruption, agreeing a new date within one month.
• Young carers’ needs assessments come from the Children Act 1989 (section 17ZA), added by the Children and Families Act 2014.
• Carer’s Allowance is £86.45 a week from age 16, with an earnings limit of £204 a week and no study of 21 hours a week or more.
• In Scotland, the Young Carer Grant is £405.10 a year for carers aged 16 to 19 who care for an average of 16 hours a week.

What the Carer’s Leave Act gives working carers

Carer’s leave is for giving or arranging care for a dependant who has a physical or mental illness or injury likely to need care for more than 3 months, a disability under the Equality Act 2010, or care needs because of old age. The dependant does not have to be a relative. It can be anyone who relies on you for care, such as a neighbour. That covers most adult children supporting a frail parent, whether it is taking them to a hospital appointment, sitting in on a care needs assessment, viewing care homes or settling them in after a hospital stay.

How much leave you can take

The entitlement is one week every 12 months, where a “week” means however long you normally work over 7 days. Someone who works 3 days a week gets 3 days. Irregular hours are averaged over the past 12 months. You can take it as half days, single days or a block. It is one week in total, not one week per dependant, but you can spread it across more than one person.

The request does not have to be in writing, and you do not have to prove your parent’s condition. Your employer cannot refuse, but if your absence would seriously disrupt the business it can move the leave. It must agree a new date within one month of the date you asked for, and put the reason and the new date in writing within 7 days of your request. You are protected from being dismissed or treated worse for taking it.

Worked example

Priya works 4 days a week and supports her father, who has Parkinson’s. Her carer’s leave entitlement is 4 days a year. She books two half days for his neurology appointments, giving 3 days’ notice each time. Later she asks for 3 days to help him move into respite care, giving at least 6 days’ notice. That uses all 4 days. Her employer pays nothing for these days unless its own policy is more generous, so it is worth checking the staff handbook.

Other workplace rights for carers

• Time off for dependants: a “reasonable” amount of time off for an emergency, such as a parent falling ill or a carer not turning up. There is no set notice period, but you must tell your employer as soon as you reasonably can, and there is no annual limit. It is usually unpaid.
• Flexible working: every employee can request it from day one, up to 2 requests in 12 months. The employer must decide within 2 months and can only refuse for one of the listed business reasons.
• Carer’s Allowance alongside work: possible if you care for 35 hours a week and earn £204 a week or less after allowable deductions. See our Carer’s Allowance earnings limit guide.

If leave runs out, short breaks can help. Our guides to respite care and council-funded respite explain how to arrange cover, and a carer’s assessment can lead to support so you can keep working.

Young carers: who they are and what they are entitled to

A young carer is anyone under 18 who provides, or intends to provide, care for another person. Often that is a parent with a long-term illness, a disabled brother or sister, or a grandparent with dementia who lives with the family. The care may be practical, such as cooking, cleaning or giving medication, or emotional, such as keeping an eye on a parent’s mood or calming a grandparent who is confused.

The young carer’s needs assessment (England)

Under section 17ZA of the Children Act 1989, the council must carry out a young carer’s needs assessment if it appears the child may need support, or if the child or a parent asks. The assessment must look at:

• whether the young carer needs support, and what kind;
• whether it is appropriate for them to be caring at all, or as much, given their age, needs and wishes;
• their education, training and leisure, and any work they do or want to do.

The child, their parents and anyone the child or a parent asks for must be involved, and they must all get a written record. Councils must also take reasonable steps to find young carers in their area. Ask the council’s children’s services for an assessment, or ask the school, which can refer the child.

Stopping children doing too much

The law is clear that the answer should not just be “support the child to keep caring”. When the adult being cared for has their own needs assessment under the Care Act 2014, the council should consider the whole family and whether a child is taking on inappropriate or excessive care. In practice, that is often the strongest argument for more home care hours, a sitting service or respite. If a grandparent with dementia lives with the family, our guides to dementia care at home and how many hours of home care are needed can help you plan.

Turning 18: transition assessments

Under section 63 of the Care Act 2014, the council must carry out a transition assessment for a young carer approaching 18 if they are likely to have needs as an adult carer and the assessment would be of significant benefit. Young adult carers aged 18 to 25 then have the same right to a carer’s assessment as any adult carer.

Money for young carers

Carer’s Allowance also gives National Insurance credits, which protect a young person’s future State Pension. But it can reduce the cared-for person’s severe disability premium or addition, so check the household’s benefits first. Our Carer’s Allowance guide covers the full rules.

Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland

• Scotland: Carer’s leave applies. Under the Carers (Scotland) Act 2016, young carers are entitled to a young carer statement setting out their needs and support. Carer Support Payment and the Young Carer Grant are paid by Social Security Scotland.
• Wales: Carer’s leave applies. The Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 gives carers of any age, including children, a right to an assessment of their needs.
• Northern Ireland: The statutory carer’s leave right does not currently apply, as employment law is devolved. Employees can still use emergency time off for dependants and request flexible working, and some employers offer carer’s leave in their own policies. Health and Social Care Trusts assess young carers.

Frequently asked questions

How much carer’s leave do you get?

Employees in England, Wales and Scotland can take up to one week of unpaid carer’s leave every 12 months, from their first day in the job. A week means your normal working week, so someone working 3 days gets 3 days. It can be taken as half days, single days or a full week, and covers anyone who depends on you for care.

Is carer’s leave paid?

No. The Carer’s Leave Act 2023 gives a right to unpaid leave only. Some employers choose to pay it, so check your contract or staff handbook. Your employment rights, such as holiday entitlement and the right to return to your job, are protected while you take it. You also cannot be dismissed or treated worse for using it.

Can my employer refuse carer’s leave?

No, but they can postpone it if your absence would seriously disrupt the business. They must agree a new date within one month of the date you asked for, and give you the reason in writing within 7 days of your request. You must give at least 3 days’ notice for a half or full day, or twice the length of longer leave.

What is a young carer’s needs assessment?

It is an assessment by the council’s children’s services of a child under 18 who cares for someone. It looks at what support they need, whether it is appropriate for them to be caring, and the effect on their education and leisure. The council must do one if it appears the child needs support, or if the child or a parent asks.

Can a 16 year old get Carer’s Allowance?

Yes. Carer’s Allowance can be claimed from 16 if the young person cares for at least 35 hours a week for someone getting a qualifying disability benefit. They must not be in full-time education or studying 21 hours a week or more, and must earn £204 a week or less. It pays £86.45 a week in 2026/27.

How much is the Young Carer Grant in Scotland?

The Young Carer Grant is a yearly payment of £405.10 for young carers in Scotland aged 16 to 19. They must have cared for an average of 16 hours a week for at least the last 3 months, for one or more people getting a qualifying disability benefit. It can be claimed once a year until age 20, through Social Security Scotland.

Sources

• GOV.UK: Carer’s leave
• legislation.gov.uk: Carer’s Leave Act 2023
• GOV.UK: Time off for dependants
• GOV.UK: Flexible working
• legislation.gov.uk: Children Act 1989, section 17ZA (young carers’ needs assessments)
• legislation.gov.uk: Care Act 2014, section 63 (transition assessments for young carers)
• GOV.UK: Carer’s Allowance eligibility
• mygov.scot: Young Carer Grant

General information, not legal or financial advice. Figures for 2026/27, checked October 2026.

Reviewed by The Care Panel team on 29 October 2026. This guide is general information about care in England, not legal, medical or financial advice. Rules and rates change; check with your council or an adviser before making decisions.