How are home carers going to afford the fuel increases?

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I know carers who care for people in their own homes don't earn very much or receive much mileage allowance, but the fuel increases are going to massively impact them.

Does the government have any plans to help the industry or is this a stupid question?

This is a disaster waiting to happen to an already struggling sector.

We received a letter yesterday from our supplier informing us our projected annual costs for the coming year from 1st April will be £4.5k
I burst into tears 😭

We just and I do mean just cover our bills there's simply no way we will be able to afford this level of charges.
I've actually no idea how on Earth we will get through this I'm feeling sick every time I think of it. I'm f/t cater to our child (complex needs) it's a horrid position to be in

It doesn't sound like there's going to be any help for anyone

There will be threads here on how to cut back I'm sure

There was an item on the news this evening. Carer paid minimum wage plus mileage. The mileage won't cover the costs at all.

Unless you're running a very thirsty and/or expensive car, the mileage rate, providing that it's the recommended 45 p a mile, more than covers the cost of all running costs and depreciation of a car, so is quite a good deal for the average small older car used by low paid workers. If they get significantly less than this, that's a separate issue.

@DoubleShotEspresso, you may already receive these, but have you applied for all financial help you may be entitled to in your situation. Your energy supplier or the likes of nea.org.uk might be able to signpost you towards grants etc for vulnerable customers who need to use more energy than average.

Does the government have any plans to help the industry or is this a stupid question?

Unfortunately it is a stupid question, the government has no plans to help any industry.

I do a similar job and am currently negotiating a pay rise, still not being offered enough to compensate for the price increases (petrol was down at £1 a litre when I started this job 18 months ago!) so now I have to go back and negotiate harder. If its a no then I'll be leaving to go do locum work. Not what I want but don't have the luxury of choice anymore.

The HMRC mileage limit has been 45p since forever, at least as long as I've been cloqming mileage which must be more than 20 years.

It's surely time that was changed? I don't know if care agencies would pay an increased limit to staff but it would be a start.

We got 15 pence a mile (and afaik it is still the same), not paid for first or last call of a block (so, 6 miles to first call at 7am unpaid, mileage paid for 5 miles in between 7-10.30, 6 miles home for break unpaid, 6 miles back to start lunch calls unpaid….through 4 shifts to finish at 10 at night). I could easily drive 70 miles a day for @ £3 mileage (and we could be asked to drive much further out of area). This was 3 years ago when I gave up to look after my late mum. I was considering going back to home caring but theres no way I can afford to run a car purely so I can work. Very sad, and not in the least bit sustainable for the industry.

If you get paid under 45p you can claim a percentage of the difference, a company I used to work for paid me 20p a mile so I claimed the difference, if you wear a uniform there is also a small claim you might be able to make.

www.gov.uk/tax-relief-for-employees/vehicles-you-use-for-work

You can also claim for previous years.