The Carer’s Leave Regulations 2024 take effect from 6 April 2024. They provide an entitlement for employees to take one week unpaid leave in a 12-month period. This is to give or arrange care for a dependent. The dependent must have:
- a physical or mental illness or injury that means they are expected to need care for more than 3 months
- a disability (as defined in the Equality Act 2010)
- care needs because of their old age.
The leave can be taken in blocks from as little as half a day to one continuous week. Find information about unpaid carer’s leave on the GOV.UK website
There is no right to statutory pay when an employee takes carer’s leave. Unpaid carer’s leave is treated in the same way as an authorised absence under LGPS regulations. Find information about authorised unpaid leave
If the employer chooses to pay the member during the period of carer’s leave, their pension will continue to build up as normal.