Carers Rights Day 2026
What is Carers Rights Day?
“Carers Rights Day is about raising awareness of the rights the UK’s 5.8 million unpaid carers are entitled to, and to help them get the support they need and the recognition they deserve” says Carers UK. “This year Carers Rights Day is taking place on Thursday 19 November”.
Why Carers Rights Day matters
Carers Rights Day matters because it highlights the huge difference that unpaid carers make to the lives of the people they care for. It raises awareness of unpaid carers as a whole, but also gives unpaid carers themselves a voice, and a platform to understand their rights.
This year’s theme
The theme for this year’s campaign is ‘Someone you know is a carer – but do they know it yet?’ By not realising that they’re actually an unpaid carer, as opposed to just helping a loved one, the person could be missing out on vital emotional, financial and legal support.
Why so many carers miss out on support
So many unpaid carers miss out on essential support simply because they don’t realise what’s available to them. They may also not actually consider themselves a carer at all.
Not recognising yourself as a carer
Unpaid carers are sometimes reluctant to identify themselves as carers, instead believing that what they are doing for loved ones or friends is just part of family life and responsibilities. According to Carers UK, “It takes two years on average for someone to identify themselves as a carer”, with “over a third (36%) taking over three years to recognise themselves as a carer.”
Not knowing what to ask for
Even when carers do recognise their role, they may not know what help they are entitled to or the support services available. Furthermore, “their caring status is often not recorded by their GP or local authority” says Carers UK. Making sure that carers are identifiable in official records locally “ensures that carers can be targeted for support by healthcare and local services”.
Your rights at a glance
It’s vital that carers’ rights are understood and recognised, so that carers get the support that’s available. This is because caring for a loved one can be rewarding but also exhausting at times and you need to ensure you are taking care of your own wellbeing too.
Ask your council for a carer’s assessment
Requesting a carer’s assessment should be done through your local council. You should phone them or go onto their website for further information. If you’re unsure who to speak to you can ask for adult social services and explain you want a carer’s assessment. It will explain how to make time for yourself and how caring is affecting other areas of your life. Afterwards you could be offered financial and practical support such as information about local organisations and advice on applying for benefits.
Check what financial support you could get
You could be eligible for Carer’s Allowance if you’re caring for the person for at least 35 hours per week and they get certain benefits. If you care for them for 20 hours per week you could still receive a National Insurance (NI) credit that will help with any gaps in your NI record, which could affect your state pension. Qualifying for Carer’s Allowance may mean you’re eligible for other types of financial support too, such as council tax reduction, Universal Credit, Pension Credit, or bursaries for training courses.
Talk to your employer about your caring role
It’s important to tell your employer about any caring responsibilities you have. This is because you have rights around your caring role. This includes being able to take a week’s unpaid leave per year, which you can request from your first day of employment. You are also able to make two requests per 12-month period for flexible working. The Equality Act 2010 also protects carers from direct discrimination or harassment because of their caring responsibilities in England, Wales and Scotland.
Tell your GP you are a carer
It’s really important to tell your GP practice that you are a carer as it means they can amend your notes to reflect this. Your local authority and other official bodies should also be notified otherwise they may not recognise your carer status. This matters because then you can be targeted for support by local services, groups, and healthcare providers. Once your GP recognises on your record that you are an unpaid carer you may fall into priority groups, such as for public health campaigns or vaccines.
Make a plan for when you need a break
Having a plan already in place for when you need an essential break will save unnecessary stress and upset for both you and the person you care for. It’s vital that unpaid carers get to take regular breaks otherwise there is a real risk of exhaustion and carer burnout. Asking other members of the family if they will be able to cover for you in the short-term is one option, as long as you ensure the person’s care plan is up to date and the family member taking over knows everything they need to. If you don’t have anyone in the family who could help though you could speak to a professional care company such as Helping Hands. We offer respite care on both a visiting and live-in care basis, for short stints or longer periods. This means you can continue living in the home you love without having to leave it, even temporarily.
Events and support near you
Many charities and organisations have directories on their websites that contain listings for local support groups and events. Carers UK has a directory with local carers’ organisations across the UK, local council social services departments and local providers. Age UK also has a handy directory of services that older people may require, that includes foot care, handy people, home help, dementia support, and social activities. Directories will also often contain information related to accessing carers’ assessments, local providers of sitting services and respite care, practical and financial support, and local carers’ groups.
Getting the support you’re entitled to with Helping Hands
Helping Hands have been supporting people for more than 37 years to live as independently as possible in the homes they love. It’s no surprise that we’re one of the UK’s most trusted home care providers, as we’ve spent decades ensuring that people get to live as well as possible in the homes and communities that matter to them. Whether you need us for a few hours a week or around the clock, we can provide planned respite care in the person’s home so that you get to take an essential opportunity to rest and recharge. Your loved one may be living with a condition such as dementia, or perhaps their mobility is affected, and they need help around the house. Our high standards of support, all fully regulated by the Care Quality Commission and Care Inspectorate Wales, will follow their care plan and routine. Having regular help from carers who quickly become friends will ensure you don’t miss your loved ones too much while they’re away.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, of course. If you are providing essential support for someone else whose physical or emotional wellbeing or safety depends on you then you should consider yourself a carer.
If circumstances change for either you or the person you’re caring for, or if you’re not managing, then you should request a review of the carer’s assessment. You have a right to request a carer’s assessment review before your scheduled review date, by contacting your local council’s adult social services department.
Keeping yourself as well as possible is important when you’re a carer. Some people choose to have a free flu jab, as they feel it will give them added protection against seasonal illness. You should be offered a free flu jab if you’re “the main carer for an older or disabled person who may be put at risk if you became ill, or if you are in receipt of Carer’s Allowance” according to Carers UK.
While it can be frustrating if the person you care for refuses your – or anyone’s – help, it’s important to remain calm and try to understand why they’re refusing. Are they afraid of losing their independence, worried about strangers coming into their home, or in denial about how much help they actually need? Listening to their concerns and asking open questions such as “What worries you about accepting help?” will let them understand that you aren’t trying to take away their rights, but that you’re worried about them. Turning it back onto yourself, such as saying it would set your mind at rest and ‘do you a favour’ if they’d let you – or someone else – come and help them, may make an impact. If they genuinely won’t entertain the idea you could speak to their GP about your concerns and ask them to broach the subject. The GP won’t be able to discuss their case with you but will take your concerns on board. It’s important to remember that if the person still has mental capacity, they do have the legal right to refuse care or assistance, even when it carries personal risk. You cannot force them to accept care, although you can raise a safeguarding concern with your local council’s social services department.
Carers UK explains that “Carers Rights Day specifically focuses on unpaid carers (family, partners, and friends providing care) rather than paid care workers.” This is because unpaid carers are not protected by employment law and workplace rights the way that paid carers are and may not be aware of the help and support available to them.