Carers Rights Day is fast approaching on Thursday 19th November 2026 and this year, the campaign poses the question: ‘Someone you know is a carer, but do they know it yet?’
Most people who provide unpaid care to relatives, close friends or neighbours who are older, chronically ill or disabled don’t always recognise themselves as carers. They often think of themselves as sons, daughters, spouses or partners, or good friends.
However, recognising yourself as a carer as soon as possible and knowing your rights is an important first step to getting support. You could be juggling work and caring, trying to access health and social services or finding out about financial help. Many people don’t realise that they are a carer for a long time and can miss out on support that could make a real difference to them and the person they care for now.
Carers Rights Day is an opportunity for everyone across the UK in every community to get involved, talk to friends and family and help ensure carers get identified sooner.
Every day, 12,000 people become unpaid carers for a partner, family member or a friend – many of whom don’t see themselves as carers, often unaware of their legal rights and what they’re entitled to in terms of support and benefits.
We work in partnership with Essex Carers Support to ensure all unpaid carers understand their rights and entitlements.
As a carer you can register with us or contact our office on 0300 7 70 80 90 for any specialist advice.
Carers have the right to....
request a Carers Assessment
If you’re over 18 and provide regular unpaid care for someone, you’re entitled to a carer’s assessment – it doesn’t matter how much or what sort of care you provide. Find out more about Carers Assessments here.
ask your GP practice to identify you as a carer
If you provide unpaid care, you can ask your GP practice to identify you as a carer on your patient record. The benefit of this is that you may then fall into a priority group for vaccines or other public health campaigns. Find more information about registering with your GP here.
request flexible working
If you are juggling work with your caring responsibilities, you have the right to request flexible working. Find out more on our working carers page or visit Carers UK.
request a free flu jab
As a carer, it’s important to look after your health and wellbeing and one way is to exercise your right to request a free flu jab, if you’d like to. Find out more on the Carers UK website.
protection against discrimination and harassment
If you look after an older or disabled person, the law (Equality Act 2010) protects you against direct discrimination or harassment because of your caring responsibilities. You can read more about this on the Carers UK website.
Carer’s Leave
earlier this year (2024), the Carer’s Leave Act became law – giving employees juggling work with unpaid care the legal right to up to five days unpaid leave per annum. Find out more on our working carers page or visit the Carers UK website.
be consulted when the person you care for is discharged from hospital
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 factsheets for carers in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales (including a Welsh language version) which explain your rights and what you can expect, helping take away some of the stress that can occur when someone close to you has been in hospital.
Essex County Council created a guide to support you when the person you care for is being discharged from hospital.
Download the guide here: hospital discharge support guide – helping someone home from hospital.pdf
Stay up to date with carer news, get helpful advice and guidance in our monthly newsletter too. Sign up here.
