Paid per visit, or paid for your day?
Many home-care workers are paid only for the time they're in each client's home. The travel in between isn't on the payslip as hours. That's allowed only if your total pay for the pay period, divided by all your working hours including travel between visits, still reaches the minimum wage.
A worked example
A carer does 8 visits in a day, 6 hours of contact time in total, paid at £13.50 an hour: £81.00. Travel between the visits adds another 2 hours. Divide the pay by all 8 working hours and the real rate is £10.13, which is below the £12.71 minimum. On a 5-day week the shortfall is £103.40.
That's why logging travel time between visits matters more in home care than in almost any other job.
Sleep-ins and waking nights
- Sleep-in: you're allowed to sleep, so the sleeping time doesn't count towards the minimum wage. It's usually paid as a flat allowance.
- Time you're woken to work during a sleep-in is working time. Write down each time and how long it lasted.
- Waking night: you're expected to be awake and working, so every hour must be paid at least the minimum wage.
Mileage and your own car
If you drive your own car between visits, your employer may pay a mileage rate. HMRC's approved rate is 45p a mile for the first 10,000 business miles in a tax year, then 25p. If you're paid less than that, you can claim tax relief on the difference from HMRC. Check your car insurance covers business use, because standard social cover usually doesn't.
Mileage payments are expenses, not pay, so they don't count towards the minimum wage. Mileage that doesn't fully cover your costs can't be used to make up a low hourly rate either.
Training and the Care Certificate
New carers usually complete the Care Certificate and mandatory training such as moving and handling. If your employer requires the training, the time is working time and should be paid.
Track it shift by shift
With Shiftaan you can mark each shift paid, part-paid or disputed, and see what every employer still owes you. It's free for up to 3 companies.
Common questions
Do care assistants get paid for travel between visits?
Travel between visits during the working day counts as working time for the minimum wage. Your pay for the period, divided by all your hours including that travel, must be at least the minimum.
Can I claim tax back on mileage as a carer?
Yes, if your employer pays less than HMRC's approved rate (45p a mile for the first 10,000 miles). You can claim Mileage Allowance Relief on the difference.
Is a sleep-in paid at the minimum wage?
Not for the time you're asleep. Any time you're woken to work counts as working time.