Carers: Health Services
(asked on 12th June 2026) - View Source
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to improve the identification and support of unpaid carers within NHS services.
The Government is preparing a cross-Government action plan for unpaid carers, to improve how unpaid carers are recognised, how support is offered, and how they can be helped to reach their full potential and live fulfilling lives.
Through measures in the 10-Year Health Plan, we are equipping and supporting carers by making them more visible, empowering their voices in care planning, joining up services, and streamlining their caring tasks by introducing a new ‘MyCarer’ section to the NHS App.
Under the Care Act 2014, local authorities have a duty to assess carers’ needs and, where eligible needs are identified, to provide support to help carers maintain their wellbeing. The Government is making over £4.6 billion of additional funding available for adult social care in 2028/29 compared to 2025/26, to support the sector in making improvements.
Any carers experiencing challenges with their mental health can seek support from their general practitioner or by self-referring to their local NHS Talking Therapies service. In addition, anyone in England experiencing a mental health crisis can now speak to a trained National Health Service professional at any time of the day, through the mental health option on NHS 111.
While caring can be deeply rewarding, we know that pressures arising from it can affect a carer’s financial stability. The Government is spending record amounts on supporting unpaid carers through the benefits system. This includes forecast spending of £4.6 billion in 2025/26 to over one million unpaid carers receiving Carer’s Allowance. The rate of Carer’s Allowance has increased in line with the Consumer Price Index, to £86.45 a week in 2026/27. And in April 2025, the Government raised the Carer’s Allowance weekly earnings limit by a record amount, and it increased again to £204 net earnings a week for 2026/27. This enables unpaid carers to earn more through paid work and still keep Carer’s Allowance.
The Government also provides support to unpaid carers through income-related benefits, which can be paid to carers at a higher rate than those without caring responsibilities. Universal Credit and Pension Credit pay an extra £2,500 a year to 1.1 million unpaid carers through the carer element and carer addition respectively.
In addition, the Government is reviewing the implementation of carer’s leave and looking at where any improvements may be needed to ensure that employment rights for unpaid carers are fit for the modern world of work. This includes a public consultation on employment rights for unpaid carers and parents of seriously ill children, which was launched on 9 June 2026. More information on the consultation is available at the following link: