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A Special Thank You for showing your support.

We have joined forces with the team at CarersCard UK.

All unpaid carers who register with the National Unpaid Carers Union and Forum will be able to apply for a FREE* Carers Card UK, which entitles the cardholder to exclusive discounts and limited time offers for unpaid carers.

The wide range of offers available include Tesco, Asda, H&M, Dorothy Perkins, Alton Towers, Thorpe Park and much, much more.

*Terms and conditions apply, see our registration page for more details.

Learn More

Click to get registered and add your voice.


            The National Unpaid Carers Union and Forum will be holding Roundtable Events with Constituents and Councillors from your area. Check out out events page to find out when we will be hosting an event in your area.


The NUCUF is a non - profit organisation ran by unpaid carers, for unpaid carers.

We believe the only way to support one another is to unite with each other, so we are forming the first recognised 'union' for Unpaid Carers. 

There are 5.9 million registered unpaid carers in the UK. Research suggests that it can take up to 3 years for an individual to recognise that they are a carer. We are here to help these people recognise the position they are in, and to point them in the right direction for the help and support they need, when they need it.

We are actively campaigning for a change in national policy, to recognise the valuable support we provide to the NHS, Social Care and the Economy. Unpaid carers save the UK economy over £164bn - the equivalent to £34,200 per person per year.

As a union, we know that many are afraid to simply go on strike because of the continuity of care, we are here to reassure you, should you decide to take official action with us, you will be supported every step of the way.


                        Together we can make change happen for so many who are struggling to meet their financial demands.

Many do not know they are a carer.

A carer can be anyone, a member of your family, a friend or a loved one. If someone you know is helping you or doing any of the following:

  • Personal Care
  • Household Chores
  • Emotional Support
  • Physical Assistance
  • Finances
  • Communicating
  • Health
  • Medications

You could be missing out on Carers Allowance.

Carers Allowance is a weekly or monthly payment to carers who provide any of the above assistance for 35 hours per week or more.

In Scotland, Carers Allowance will be known as Carer Support Payments. Current claims for Carers Allowance will change from Spring 2025 to its new name Carer Support Payments, those already in receipt of Carers Allowance and are paid weekly can continue to receive the payment weekly, any new claims for the 'Carer Support Payments' will be paid 4 weekly in arrears.

Click to find out more  about Carers Allowance (PDF) Click to find out more about Carers Support Payments  (WWW)

A YouGov Poll in 2023 suggested there are as many as 10.6m Unpaid Carers in the UK.
In August 2023 the Department for Work and Pensions stated only 1.4m were claiming carers allowance. (YouGov 2023)



Our Aims.

We have just 3 aims:

1. To achieve financial stability for carers, through either an increase in the carers allowance to either the living wage or a negotiated rate for carers.

2. To unite all carers across the nation, allowing the formation of a forum where carers can communicate with each other to be able to offer support and advice on issues.

3. To petition HM Government to cease all current and future prosecutions of unpaid carers who have been overpaid carers allowance. Positive result on October 16th 2024

Unpaid Carers save the UK Economy £163bn per year - Thats £34,200 per carer per year, or put another way its enough to fund another NHS Service for a whole year. (Carers UK 2023)

Our News

Read the latest news about unpaid carers and the NUCUF
Feb 24, 2025
The National Unpaid Carers Union has a new community Partner

The National Unpaid Carers Union and Forum are pleased to welcome our new community partner, Action for Family Carers (AfFC).

Action for Family Carers is an Essex-based charity that has been making a positive difference to the lives of unpaid Carers including Young Carers for over 30 years

Read More >
NUCUF welcomes Harlow Council and the Harlow Food Bank

The NUCUF is proud to welcome our new community partners, the Harlow Food Bank and Harlow Council.

Harlow food bank has been serving more and more residents is Harlow with a huge 10,000 people requiring the service in 2024.


Read More >
March 23, 2025
The National Unpaid Carers Union and Forum Survey 2025

The National Unpaid Carers Union and Forum are running our annual Carers Survey for 2025.

As this is the first survey we have taken, the survey will run until Carers Rights Day on 21st November 2025.

Read More >
April 29, 2025
Carers Allowance Virtual Conference.

The National Unpaid Carers Union and Forum and Mobilise will be holding 2 Carers Allowance Review Input sessions.

This is your opportunity to have an input into the Independent Review of Carers Allowance due for publication this summer.

Read More >
July 19, 2025
The National Unpaid Carers Union meets MP Chris Vince

The National Unpaid Carers Union and Forum are pleased to announce, we will be holding a Roundtable Event, with the MP for Harlow and Surrounding Villages, Chris Vince.

Seats for the event must be reserved.

If you want to reserve a seat, to be able to share your experiences of the DWP, Carers Allowance and the issues affecting unpaid carers, click the read more link below.



Read More >
Sept 19, 2025
Mobilise report suggests NHS not ready for 10 year plan.

The Labour government, headed up by Sir Kier Starmer, have set their agenda for the NHS' next 10 years of service.

The plan for the NHS is to streamline the service by relying more on community services. In an emergency, you can still attend Accident and Emergency, however, the plan requires GP's to exhaust all other avenues in the community, such as Physiotherapists, Community Nurses and Community Mental Health teams, before attending the hospital for treatment.

Read More >
October 22, 2025
Unpaid Carers in Essex asked for their opinion.

Unpaid Carers in Essex have been invited by Essex County Council to take part in the shaping of their Unpaid Carers Strategy for 2026 - 2030

To take part in the consultation visit our updates page for more information.

Read More >
April 25, 2025
'Inhumane' system is denying carer his old age pension

Jersey resident Mark Hall, 69 has been denied his state pension by the government on the island.

Mark, who cares for his two neuro-divergent children has been refused his pension because he claims carers allowance.

Mark argues that DWP rules are a direct breach of the rules agreed by the European Court of Human Rights.

Read More >

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Carer Discount Scheme

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