Unpaid Carers Action Plan 2026: Major New Government Support Every Family Should Know
The UK government has unveiled a new cross-government action plan aimed at recognising unpaid carers earlier, connecting them with support and helping them balance caring responsibilities with work, education and their own wellbeing.
The Unpaid Carers Action Plan: Acknowledge, Refer, Reach sets out 42 actions covering health, social care, education, employment and financial support.
Why the Action Plan Matters
Millions of people across England provide unpaid care to relatives, friends or loved ones. However, many carers remain unidentified and struggle to access the support they need.
Unpaid carers can face challenges including:
- Difficulty remaining in employment or education.
- Financial pressure.
- Limited access to respite and support services.
- Social isolation and loneliness.
- Neglect of their own health and wellbeing.
- Difficulties navigating health and social care services.
The government says the new plan is designed to ensure carers are recognised earlier and directed towards appropriate support.
Three Key Pillars
The action plan focuses on three main areas:
1. Recognising Unpaid Carers
Carers should be identified earlier, including young carers, so that they can receive appropriate support before their responsibilities negatively affect their health, education or employment.
2. Connecting Carers to Support
Once identified, carers should be directed towards relevant services, including financial assistance, employment support, flexible working, Carer’s Leave and health and social care services.
3. Helping Carers Reach Their Potential
The government wants carers to have better opportunities to remain in work or education and develop their careers while continuing to support the people who depend on them.
Major Measures in the Action Plan
Some of the key measures include:
NHS App Carer Registration
Unpaid carers will be encouraged to register their caring role through the NHS App. This will help healthcare professionals identify carers, involve them in care planning and connect them with relevant support.
Single Patient Record
The planned single patient record will allow health and care providers to access relevant information more easily. This could reduce the need for carers to repeatedly provide the same information about the person they support.
New GOV.UK Carers Information
A dedicated GOV.UK information page will bring together guidance on health, social care, employment and benefits in one place.
Carers’ Charter
The government plans to publish a Carers’ Charter outlining carers’ rights and entitlements.
Additional Workplace Support
From spring 2027, businesses with more than 250 employees are expected to provide additional support to unpaid carers to help them remain in employment while managing caring responsibilities.
Better Hospital Discharge Planning
Measures under the Better Care Fund will place unpaid carers at the centre of hospital discharge planning, helping ensure they are properly involved before the person they care for returns home.
Support for Young Carers
Young carers will be identified earlier and supported to remain engaged in education. Schools will also have improved arrangements for recording and safely sharing information about young carers across relevant services.
Financial and Employment Support
The action plan builds on existing measures aimed at supporting unpaid carers.
The government says the Carer’s Allowance earnings limit has increased by more than £2,750 over two years.
Universal Credit and Pension Credit also provide additional financial support to eligible unpaid carers through the carer element and carer addition.
Meanwhile, the Department for Business and Trade has been consulting on employment rights and Carer’s Leave, including proposals for paid Carer’s Leave and a right to return to work following a period of intensive caring.
What This Could Mean for Families
The action plan represents a move towards a more joined-up approach to supporting unpaid carers.
Instead of carers having to navigate separate health, social care, employment and benefits systems on their own, the government wants services to identify them earlier and connect them with appropriate assistance.
This could be particularly important for older carers, young carers and people caring for relatives with long-term illnesses or disabilities.
Part of Wider Social Care Reform
The plan also forms part of the government’s wider ambitions for adult social care and a proposed national care service.
An independent commission on adult social care, led by Baroness Casey, is examining the future of social care and the needs of unpaid carers, with preliminary recommendations expected later this year.
Conclusion
The Unpaid Carers Action Plan 2026 could represent an important step towards better recognising the millions of people who provide unpaid care across England.
The focus is clear: identify carers earlier, connect them with support and help them maintain their health, education, employment and independence while caring for others.
For families providing unpaid care, understanding the support available and keeping up with future changes could be increasingly important as the government’s wider social care reforms develop.
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