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United Kingdom · carer’s leave

Carer’s Leave Request Email UK: Template and Notice Rules

LeaveDraft Team · Updated Oct 14, 2026
UK carer’s leave request email template
Quick answer

Eligible employees in England, Scotland and Wales can take up to one week of unpaid statutory carer’s leave every 12 months to provide or arrange care for a dependant with a long-term care need. Notice rules apply, and Northern Ireland has a separate employment-law framework.

Use this email to notify your employer that you need statutory carer’s leave. The leave is available from the first day of employment for eligible employees, but it has specific conditions and notice rules. It is separate from emergency time off for dependants and from parental leave.

On this page
  1. Who can request carer’s leave?
  2. Notice and timing
  3. How to send the email
  4. Generate your email
  5. Frequently asked questions
  6. Official sources and references

Who can request carer’s leave?

The dependant may be a family member or another person who relies on you for care. The qualifying need can relate to a disability, old age, or a physical or mental illness or injury expected to require care for more than three months. The statutory entitlement is unpaid and amounts to one week over each 12-month period, calculated by the employee’s normal working pattern.

Notice and timing

  • For a request covering one day or half a day, give at least three days’ notice.
  • For a request longer than one day, give notice at least twice as long as the leave requested.
  • The employer cannot refuse statutory carer’s leave, but may postpone it if the absence would cause serious disruption. A postponement must follow the statutory written-notice and alternative-date rules.
  • You do not usually need to provide evidence of the dependant’s care needs.

Jurisdiction note: this statutory carer’s-leave entitlement applies in Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales). Northern Ireland has a separate employment-law framework; check nidirect guidance and your own contract or staff handbook if you work there.

How to send the email

  1. State that you are requesting statutory carer’s leave.
  2. Give the date or dates and describe how much time you need.
  3. Keep details about the dependant’s health private unless you choose to share them.
  4. Ask HR to confirm the leave record and any internal form required.

Generate your email

Fill in the fields to create a letter you can copy, download as a Word-compatible file or print to PDF.

Frequently asked questions
Is statutory carer’s leave paid in the UK?
No. The statutory entitlement is unpaid, although an employer may offer more generous contractual or workplace benefits.
How much carer’s leave can I take?
Eligible employees can take up to one week every 12 months, in whole days, half days or separate periods, within the rules.
Can my employer refuse the request?
The employer cannot refuse statutory carer’s leave, but in qualifying circumstances may postpone it by following the statutory process.
Summary
Confirm the rules that apply to your role and keep a copy of the request and any written response.