What does the government’s new action plan for unpaid carers mean for you?

What is the new unpaid carers action plan?

It is a plan put together jointly by several government departments — health and social care, work and pensions, and education — rather than a single new benefit or service. The government says it is the first action plan of its kind to look at unpaid caring across the whole of someone’s life, not just their entitlement to a particular payment.

It rests on three ideas: recognising who unpaid carers actually are (many do not think of themselves as a “carer” at all), referring them into the support that already exists, and helping them stay in work, education or training if caring makes that difficult.

Who actually counts as an unpaid carer?

Nearly one in ten people in England are providing unpaid care for a family member, partner or friend — help with washing, dressing, medication, shopping, appointments, or simply keeping an eye on someone who could not manage safely alone. You do not need to live with the person, and you do not need to be caring full time to count. Many people caring for a spouse or an elderly parent have never used the word “carer” about themselves, which is one of the reasons the government says support goes unclaimed.

What is changing on the NHS App?

One of the concrete measures is the ability to register as a carer directly through the NHS App, so that GPs and hospitals know you are looking after someone and can involve you in decisions — for example, when the person you care for is being discharged from hospital. The plan also points towards more joined-up patient records between health and social care services, so carers are not left repeating the same information to different services.

What will the new “carers’ charter” actually cover?

The plan promises a “carers’ charter” setting out, in one place, the rights carers already have — such as the right to a free Carer’s Assessment from your local council under the Care Act 2014 — alongside a consolidated GOV.UK information hub bringing together health, social care, employment and benefits guidance for carers. That hub is due to launch in summer 2026. Until it appears, the existing routes still apply: you can ask your council’s adult social services team for a Carer’s Assessment at any time, without waiting for the new hub.

Will your employer have to support you if you’re a carer?

From spring 2027, employers with 250 or more staff will be expected to provide support for employees who are also carers. Exactly what that looks like in practice — flexible hours, carer’s leave, signposting to services — is still being worked through, so if you are caring alongside a job, it is worth keeping an eye on updates rather than expecting changes immediately. If you work for a smaller employer, this particular measure will not apply to you, though you may still be able to request flexible working under existing employment law.

Could you already be missing out on money as a carer?

Separately from the new plan, the government notes that 1.1 million unpaid carers already receive an extra £2,500 a year on average through the carer elements built into Universal Credit and Pension Credit — on top of Carer’s Allowance itself. The earnings limit for Carer’s Allowance has also risen by more than £2,750 over the past two years, so if you looked into it before and were turned away for earning slightly too much, it may be worth checking again.

• If you receive Universal Credit or Pension Credit and care for someone for 35+ hours a week, check whether a carer element has been added to your award.
• If you were previously refused Carer’s Allowance on earnings grounds, check the current limit on GOV.UK before assuming you still do not qualify.
• If you have never had a Carer’s Assessment, you are entitled to ask your council for one regardless of what the new action plan eventually delivers.

What should you do right now?

Most of this plan is still being rolled out rather than available today, so there is no application to fill in yet. The sensible steps in the meantime are the ones that already exist: request a Carer’s Assessment from your council if you have not had one, check your Universal Credit or Pension Credit award for a carer element, and confirm the current Carer’s Allowance earnings limit if you were turned down before. When the GOV.UK carers hub launches, it should make all of this easier to find in one place — but you do not need to wait for it.