Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to support employees who leave employment to provide unpaid care to return to work.

Our Get Britain Working plan aims to reduce economic inactivity levels and take the first steps to delivering our long-term ambition to achieve an 80% employment rate. We want to ensure that everyone has the opportunities they need to achieve and thrive, to succeed and flourish. This includes unpaid carers, whereby many of whom are excluded from the labour market due to their caring responsibilities.

Customers providing care for fewer than 35 hours a week receive personalised support through their Work Coach, and their work expectation is tailored to fit caring responsibilities. Support includes identifying skills gaps and referral to skills training, careers advice, job search support, volunteering opportunities and access to the Flexible Support Fund to aid job entry. Unemployed customers who require more intensive employment support can also be referred to the Restart programme.

The weekly Carer’s Allowance earnings limit is now pegged to 16 hours work at National Living Wage (NLW) levels and in future it will increase when the NLW increases. The earnings limit increased to be £196 a week (net earnings) on 7 April 2025, compared to £151 in 2024/25. This is the largest ever increase in the earnings limit since Carer’s Allowance was introduced in 1976 and the highest percentage increase since 2001. This means carers who are receiving the NLW (and have not done overtime or received a bonus) will be able to work for 16 hours a week and still receive Carer's Allowance.

DWP also provides information to help carers and potential unpaid carers make informed decisions about combining work and care through their JobHelp Care Choices Site.