What is carer's leave?

For employees who look after someone with a long-term illness, disability or care needs because of old age.

Applies to: England, Scotland, Wales Last checked against official sources: 6 October 2026

Carer's leave is a legal right for employees to take up to one week of unpaid leave every 12 months to care for someone with a long-term care need.

You can take it from your first day in a job.
The person you care for does not have to be a family member.
You can take a whole week, or single days or half days.
Give at least 3 days' notice, or twice the length of the leave if longer.
Your employer cannot refuse, but can move it if your absence would cause serious disruption.

Different in Northern Ireland

There is no statutory carer's leave; some employers offer it as a workplace arrangement.

Different in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland

Rules may be different in:

Northern Ireland: Check nidirect for Northern Ireland

Key facts

1 week every 12 months
Unpaid
From day one in a job
No evidence needed

What carer's leave is

Carer's leave is time off work so you can give or arrange care for someone who depends on you. It is a legal right for employees in England, Scotland and Wales. It is unpaid, but your employment rights, such as holiday and the right to return to your job, are protected.

Who it is for

You can take carer's leave if:

you are an employee (you can check your employment status if you are not sure)
you are caring for a dependant with a long-term care need

You have the right from your first day with your employer.

Who counts as a dependant

The person does not have to be a family member. It can be anyone who relies on you for care.

What counts as a long-term care need

The person must have one of these:

a physical or mental illness or injury that means they are expected to need care for more than 3 months
a disability, as defined in the Equality Act 2010
care needs because of their old age

You do not need to give your employer evidence of the person's care needs.

How much leave you get

Rule	Detail
Amount	Up to 1 week every 12 months
What "a week" means	The hours you normally work over 7 days
More than one dependant	Still 1 week in total
How to take it	A whole week, or single days or half days
Pay	Unpaid by law

Example: you work 3 days a week. One week of carer's leave is 3 working days. You could take these as 6 half days across the year.

How to ask for it

Tell your employer the dates you want. It does not have to be in writing.
Give enough notice:
- for a half day or a full day, at least 3 days before
- for longer, at least twice as long as the leave (for example, 4 days' notice for 2 days off)
Keep a note of what you asked for and when.

What your employer can and cannot do

Your employer cannot refuse carer's leave.
They can ask you to take it at a different time if your absence would cause serious disruption to the business.
If they do, they must agree another date within one month of the date you asked for.
They must give you the reason in writing within 7 days of your request.

Things to know

Check your contract or staff handbook in case your employer offers more.
For emergencies involving someone who depends on you, you also have a separate right to time off for dependants.
Employees also have the right to ask for flexible working.

If you live in Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland does not have the same legal right to carer's leave. nidirect lists carer's leave as something an employer might offer, along with other options such as compassionate leave and career breaks. You can ask your employer for flexible working.

Related guides

Where this comes from

Get it done

This takes you to the official service, which is free to use.

Read the carer's leave rules

Common questions

Is carer's leave paid?

No. Statutory carer's leave is unpaid, but your employment rights such as holiday and returning to your job are protected.

Do I need to prove the person needs care?

No. Employees do not need to give evidence of their dependant's care needs.

Can my employer refuse carer's leave?

They cannot refuse it, but they can ask you to take it at a different time if your absence would cause serious disruption, agreeing a new date within one month.

Official sources

1.Unpaid carer's leave (GOV.UK)www.gov.uk/carers-leave
2.Caring for someone while working (nidirect)www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/caring-someone-while-working

Checked against GOV.UK on 6 October 2026

Ask about your situation

Please don't include your name, address, National Insurance number or health details. See our privacy notice.