Your rights: today, tomorrow, and in the future
If you are an unpaid carer, you’re entitled to certain rights that may help you access services, look after your health and wellbeing, or provide vital information and support in looking after your partner, family member, or friend.
All carers are entitled to a carer’s assessment which could lead to them or the person they are caring for, getting social care support to help with caring. The assessment is a conversation that will look at how caring impacts the carer’s ability to cope, including their physical, mental, and emotional needs, and whether they are able or willing to carry on caring. Some carers may also be entitled to help with finances such as Carers Allowance.
The following legislation will help you understand your rights as a carer:
- Rights under the 2014 Care Act
- Young People’s rights under the Children Act 1989 and the Children and Families Act 2014
- Parent carers of children’s rights under the Children and Families Act 2014
- Employment rights
- The Equality Act
- The Human Rights Act
- Health and Care Act 2022
If you are juggling work with your caring responsibilities, you have the right to request flexible working. To find out more visit our Working Carers and Carer Friendly employer pages.
If you provide unpaid care, you can ask your GP practice to identify you as a carer on your patient record and might be called forward for priority vaccines or other public health campaigns. Carers UK has information on how to talk to your GP – and even provides a useful letter template to download and use. You can find them on their website.
It’s essential to find ways to look after your health and wellbeing and one way is to exercise your right to request a free flu jab. If you are the main carer for an older or disabled person, who may be put at risk if you become ill, or if you are in receipt of Carer’s Allowance, you should be offered a free flu jab.
If you are a carer and the person you care for is being discharged from hospital, the hospital must identify and consult with you, where possible. Carers UK has produced handy fact sheets for carers that explain your rights and what you can expect, helping relieve some of the stress that can occur when someone close to you has been in hospital.
If you are an Employer, understand your responsibilities to carer employees here. If you want to support your working carers to stay in employment and improve their well-being, sign up for our Carer Friendly Employer Award Program.
