Govt to consider paid carer’s leave

Balancing work with caring for someone is no easy task and can involve a range of challenges, not least financial ones.

You’re only allowed up to a week of carer’s leave a year – and you don’t get paid for it.

Reduced earnings, the additional costs often associated with caring and low benefit entitlement can mean extra money worries.

But that could be set to change, as the government is considering a set number of days when you can claim paid carer’s leave if you work and care for someone who is elderly, sick or disabled.

Why pay carers?

Caring benefits are low. The main one, carer’s allowance, is just £81.90 a week for a minimum of 35 hours – equivalent to just £2.34 per hour. For comparison, the lowest minimum wage for apprentices and under 18s is nearly triple this at £6.40 an hour.

In 2022, the government said the allowance was a measure of support, not a replacement for any wages, adding that some carers would get further help through means-tested benefits.

Figures from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation found nearly half (44%) of carers who work are struggling to make ends meet. And according to Carers UK, a quarter (25%) are cutting back on essentials while 63% are “extremely worried” about managing their monthly costs.

Paying carers could also potentially save the UK economy £6bn a year, as the demands of caring forced nearly 400,000 people to leave their jobs in 2021-22.

What could change?

Currently, you’re only allowed leave for the same amount of time as you usually work in a week – if you work three days each week, you’re entitled to three days’ unpaid carer’s leave. Paid leave is expected to work in the same way. We don’t know yet how much the government will consider paying people, though we’d expect it to be brought more in line with other benefits.

Paid leave has been long called for by Carers UK, who are asking for a minimum of 10 days a year.

When will these plans be looked at?

The proposals will be reviewed after the summer recess.

A government spokesperson confirmed it would “examine the feasibility” of introducing paid carer’s leave.

Carers UK welcomed the move, saying it would be “a significant step forward” to support millions of unpaid carers.

Help and support for carers

If you look after someone, you might be eligible to claim certain benefits. Read our guide on the financial support available to carers or use our benefits calculator to see what you’re entitled to.

You might also be able to apply for some grants, which you won’t need to pay back.