Carer's Leave vs Time off for Dependants vs Parental Leave vs Carer's Allowance

Four different statutory rights help unpaid carers. They serve different needs — emergency time off, planned care leave, longer parental leave, and income for primary carers. Use them together where appropriate.

Tip: scroll the table sideways to see all columns →

Feature	Carer's Leave Act 2023	Time off for Dependants	Parental Leave	Carer's Allowance
Type	Unpaid leave from work	Unpaid time off from work	Unpaid leave from work	State benefit
Eligibility	All employees from day 1	All employees from day 1	Parents of children under 18, 1 year service	Carer of 35+ hours/week of qualifying disability benefit recipient
Amount	1 week per year	Reasonable amount per incident	18 weeks per child up to age 18	£83.30/week (2025-26)
Paid?
For what	Planned care for dependant with long-term need	Unforeseen disruptions — illness, school, breakdown of care	Ordinary parenting time	Income for full-time care
Notice required	Twice the leave length + 1 day (or as required by employer)	As soon as practicable	21 days; employer can postpone for up to 6 months	N/A — application to DWP
Affects other benefits	No — unpaid	No — unpaid	No — unpaid	Counts as income for UC

The 2024 statutory Carer's Leave is in addition to the existing right to Time off for Dependants. Together they cover most situations. Carer's Allowance has an earnings limit (£196/week 2025-26).

Related guides

Carer's Leave Act 2023

Since 6 April 2024 the Carer's Leave Act 2023 gives every employee a day-one statutory right to take up to one week of unpaid leave each year to care for a dependant with long-term care needs. This guide explains who counts as a dependant, what notice you must give, how leave can be taken, and what to do if your employer refuses.

5 min

Time Off for Dependants

Employees have a statutory right to take a reasonable amount of unpaid time off work to deal with emergencies involving a dependant. This is a day-one right — no qualifying period is required. Understanding when you can use this entitlement and how to request it protects you from unfair treatment when family emergencies arise.

6 min read

Maternity, Paternity and Shared Parental Leave

New parents in the UK have important statutory rights to take time off work and receive pay during leave. Understanding maternity, paternity, and shared parental leave helps you plan your family and protect your employment.

9 min

Carer's Allowance

Carer's Allowance is the main state benefit for unpaid carers in the UK. It is worth £83.30 per week (2025/26) and is paid to people who provide at least 35 hours of care per week to someone receiving a qualifying disability benefit. Despite being the main carer benefit, it has a comparatively low rate and strict earnings rules that catch many carers out.

9 min

Disclaimer

The information on this page was correct at the time of writing. Amounts, thresholds, and rules may change. Always check the latest official guidance.