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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU To think this hourly rate is a bit mean?

41 replies

notsohippychick · 19/07/2018 07:05

I’m asking advice as I have no clue in terms of this issue!

I have organised some help over the summer to assist me with my two children. Both are Autistic and the help means I can take them both out for the day with another pair of hands.

My problem is how much to pay her per hour? She’s 21 and has experience in childcare. I have asked some friends and they think about £5-6 per hour. Firstly this is below min wage and secondly, I just think it’s being a bit mean!

I was thinking around £9? I’m not expecting her to have both children together in her own. One or the other.

Those who have childminders can you recommend a fair hourly rate? She is helping in blocks of 4 hours of that helps?

Sorry to ask, but I’m clueless. I want to be fair because hopefully she’ll be worth her weight in gold and would love her to help out on a more regular basis.

Thanks guys xx

OP posts:
Original poster
notsohippychick · 19/07/2018 07:41

£10 per hour it is. Thanks everyone. I’m just happy to have someone to can help! It’s boring for the children staying in constantly and it so hard taking them out as a pair!! It’s like herding cats!!

OP posts:
ZenNudist · 19/07/2018 07:47

Minimum wage less tax is 6.50 ish. So 6-7 fair. If shes declaring her income pay min wage.

gingerbread88 · 19/07/2018 07:50

I used to pay £9 an hour for childcare help within my home. Anything less than that I'd feel a bit mean too. It does depend on area though. Often I would round it up in her weekly wage and she used to get closer to £10 an hour....

perfectstorm · 19/07/2018 07:51

I can't believe that your friends think it's appropriate to pay someone you are entrusting your kids to so much less than you'd pay someone to clean your house. It's a depressing indication of how little people value childcare, really.

I also have an ASD child. I pay someone to look after the non-ASD child sometimes, so she can go out to all the places her brother can't cope with on sensory grounds. She gets to go to special holiday events that would otherwise be out of the question. The caring is done by someone at her nursery school, too. She does a lot of ad hoc care for kids there, and her standard rate is £10 per hour. Honestly, if anything I think that's low. We also pay for all expenses when she has her - outings, petrol, food etc. because the £10 is her labour costs.

TwoBlueFish · 19/07/2018 08:14

My son’s PA, paid for via council direct payments, is paid £8.25ph. She’s in her 40’s with many years experience with children and special needs.

Original poster
notsohippychick · 19/07/2018 08:14

perfect I know. It was pretty shocked!

Hopefully she’ll be the answer to my holiday prayers! It’s so hard dividing my time between the two and outings are out of the question!

OP posts:
WomanWithAltitude · 19/07/2018 08:21

Your paying her cash-in-hand, presumably she's not declaring it, paying tax or NI. Therefore it's a lower rate.

This is a big presumption, and it's also illegal to knowingly assist tax evasion. Just because someone is paid in cash it doesn't mean they are on the fiddle, or that OP should assume they are.

CrochetBelle · 19/07/2018 08:42

If it helps at all, the Government think that my two autistic DC cost me a maximum of £1.85 per hour to look after Wink**

**I am not at all suggesting this as a figure, just pointing out the disservice being done to carers.

MilyMoo · 19/07/2018 08:50

With the council I work for (north west) a personal assistant employed by the parent through direct payments would get around £8.10 after tax/ deductions/ etc. So yes I would agree with the above that between £8-9 an hour is appropriate 🙂

WilyMinx · 19/07/2018 10:05

I think £9 is fair.

If you wouldn't do it yourself for £5-6 an hour, then I don't think you should offer it.

shinyredbus · 19/07/2018 10:22

I pay my nanny £12/hour because that’s the going rate here, some charge £15. I think you are being fair up, you’re friends sounds very mean.

Bombardier25966 · 19/07/2018 10:40

For those mentioning tax, unless she's working a lot of hours whilst at uni, she won't be liable to pay it.

WomanWithAltitude · 19/07/2018 13:43

She is likely to be liable for NIC though.

My main point was that it is not acceptable to justify paying a low wage on the assumption that the recipient will be evading the tax on it (as a pp stated). It's a criminal offence, so shouldn't even have been raised by that pp.

MsBagelLady · 19/07/2018 14:21

Do NOT pay her less than minimum wage as has been suggested, paying minimum wage is downright rude and paid by employers who would pay less if they could get away with it. £10p/h is cheap enough for someone to look after your children.

Original poster
notsohippychick · 19/07/2018 16:53

I’ve taken on your feedback, spoke to the childminder and agreed on £10 per hour. She seemed very happy with that so it’s all systems go.

Thanks for all your input x

OP posts:
9amTrain · 19/07/2018 17:09

@Tubie you were right :) £7.38 for under 25s then it goes up to £7.83.

Confusing figures!

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