Home Care Workers Demand Mileage and Travel Time Compensation
A South Yorkshire-based home care worker has emphasized the necessity for all home care workers to be compensated for their mileage and travel time in light of ongoing increases in fuel prices.
Many carers who provide house-to-house services use their personal vehicles for work, often driving hundreds of miles weekly. However, not all receive employer support for fuel expenses.
Representatives from the care industry have stated that care providers are unable to raise mileage reimbursement rates due to insufficient funding from local authorities and NHS integrated care boards.
A government spokesperson affirmed the commitment to keeping costs low for motorists and stated that measures are being taken to ensure vital care workers receive financial support.
Personal Impact on Carers
Amanda Nottingham, 42, employed by Sheffield-based Visiting Angels, currently receives 35p per mile from her employer.
She reports driving between 100 and 300 miles (161-483 km) weekly to visit clients and can spend up to £400 monthly on fuel.
"I probably fill up between £75-100 per week. It's a very big bill," Nottingham said.
While the mileage payment from her employer is a significant help, it does not cover the full cost of fuel.
The price of petrol and diesel has surged since the onset of the Iran war in February.
According to the RAC's Fuel Watch, unleaded petrol is 26.7p per litre more expensive than it was three months ago at the beginning of the conflict.
Nottingham also receives payment for travel time between clients from her employer, though this practice is not universal among care companies.
"I think it should be a necessity that all carers get paid for their travel and their fuel," she said.
"We're doing a job to keep people's loved ones in their own homes, making sure they feel special and cared for.
"It's long hours. If companies are not giving fuel allowance or travel allowance, it's not an incentive to keep your staff there."
Government and Industry Responses
In May, Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced an increase in tax-free mileage rates by 10p to 55p per mile to assist workers using their own vehicles for work.
The Homecare Association, representing care companies, reported that 80% of care workers drive their own vehicles for work and that 60% of providers pay mileage rates of 40p per mile or less.
Dr Jane Townson, chief executive of the Homecare Association, explained that many care providers cannot afford to raise mileage rates due to inadequate funding from councils and NHS integrated care boards.
"Most employers pay mileage, but not many of them can manage to get to the 55p level because the income they receive from councils and integrated care boards in the NHS just is not enough," Townson said.
She further stated that the association has calculated the minimum price for homecare in 2026-27 at £34.42 per hour, whereas councils and the NHS currently pay approximately £24 per hour on average.
Dan Archer, chief executive of Visiting Angels in Sheffield, noted that cost-of-living pressures disproportionately affect home carers due to low wages.
He confirmed that his company pays carers for travel time and is considering increasing mileage rates following the Chancellor's announcement to better support workers.
However, Archer highlighted that many carers nationwide are not compensated for travel time, which risks reducing their hourly pay below the national minimum wage.
"Pay injustice brings things like cost of living pressures into sharp relief," Archer said.
"At the moment, the system is being propped up on the goodwill of carers and they are the last people who should be subsidising this.
"So, whether the money comes from central government or local government, it is fundamentally wrong that at the moment care workers are meeting that cost by subsidising care packages themselves."
Concerns Over Workforce Retention and Government Measures
Concerns have been raised that rising fuel costs may lead to more care workers leaving the sector.
"Some of the impacts might be that care workers are unwilling to travel longer distances, so some people in more remote places may struggle to find care," Townson said.
She added that many in the care industry would welcome increased government investment.
A government spokesperson stated:
"This government is determined to keep costs down for motorists and is taking action to put money in the pockets of our vital care workforce.
"That's why we have extended the 5p fuel duty cut until the end of the year, increased the recommended mileage rates that workers can claim tax free, and are delivering the first ever Fair Pay Agreement for carers – backed by £500m."
"They added that during the current Parliament, care workers would receive one of the biggest upgrades in their pay, rights and conditions in a generation, alongside our changes to the minimum wage and new measures in the Employment Rights Act."
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