Carers Leave Request Letter: Free Template and What to Include

If you need to request your statutory right to unpaid carers leave under the Carers Leave Act 2023, a written letter is the recommended first step — it creates a clear record and shows you're pursuing the matter formally. Below is what a strong carers leave request should include.

What this letter needs to cover

• Confirm the care relationship and long-term care need
• State the number of days requested
• Confirm the statutory right to up to one week of unpaid carers leave in any 12 months, from day one of employment
• Confirm the notice given meets the requirement of twice the number of days or 3 days whichever is greater

Your right to carers leave

Since the Carers Leave Act 2023 came into force on 6 April 2024, employees in England, Wales and Scotland have a day-one right to up to one week of unpaid leave in any 12 months (for example 5 days if you work 5 days a week) to provide or arrange care for a dependant with a long-term care need. This is separate from other leave entitlements like annual leave or emergency dependant leave, and doesn't require you to have worked for your employer for any minimum period first. In Northern Ireland the rules are different: check with the Labour Relations Agency.

What to include before you send it

• Confirmation that you're requesting carers leave under the Carers Leave Act 2023
• The dates you wish to take, and whether as a single block or spread across separate days
• A brief description of the caring responsibility, without needing to provide detailed medical evidence
• Reference to the required notice period, which is twice the length of the leave requested, or 3 days if that is longer

What counts as a "long-term care need"

This covers a dependant with an illness or injury expected to last more than 3 months, a disability as defined under the Equality Act 2010, or care needs related to old age. It's a broad definition, and you're not required to provide medical evidence to support your request in the way some other forms of leave might require.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can my employer refuse a carers leave request?
Your employer can postpone the leave in certain limited circumstances if the timing would unduly disrupt the business, but they must consult you first and offer alternative dates within a month.

Is carers leave paid?
No — it's a statutory unpaid entitlement, though your employer may choose to pay it under their own more generous policy if they have one.

[Your Name]
[Your Job Title]
[Line Manager or HR Manager Name]
[Company or Organisation Name]
[Company Address]
[Company Postcode]
[Date]

Dear [Manager or HR Name],

Subject: Notice to take Carer's Leave

I am giving notice that I want to take Carer's Leave under the Carer's Leave Act 2023, which gives employees in England, Wales and Scotland a right from day one to up to one week of unpaid carer's leave in any 12 months.

The leave is to give or arrange care for my [relationship, e.g. mother / partner / child], who has a long-term care need because [e.g. they have an illness or injury likely to need care for more than 3 months / they have a disability / they need care because of old age].

I would like to take [Number, e.g. 2] days of Carer's Leave on:
• [e.g. Monday 9 November 2026]
• [e.g. Tuesday 10 November 2026]

This notice is at least twice as many days as the leave I am asking for, or 3 days if that is more.

Please confirm the leave in writing.

Yours sincerely,

[Your Signature]
[Your Printed Name]

[Note for the page: In Northern Ireland the rules are different - check with the Labour Relations Agency.]