Page 4 | Direct payment amount to pay worker

EJ1000 · 2025-08-27T10:56:52+00:00

Hi all, I have been granted 4 hours per wk direct payments. This means I can pay the PA £13 / hour. However , I would like to pay them more than this as it is significant care needs they are dealing with - I think £20-£25/hour is much fairer. The lady at the council said I can pay them what I like however the extra would have to come out my own money. I can’t afford to top up their wage from my own money however, and what I would rather do is use the DP money but for less hours. Eg: 2 hours per wk at £20/hour. My worker won’t work for the £13 they offer and it’s hard to find someone (impossible) who will do the job for this amount. Ive read the FAQs for direct payments and it seems the £13 / hr is more of a guideline (they also say they “recommend” paying double on bank hol etc but def doesn’t seem has to be that way), however lady at council seems to be insisting can only pay £13 /hr from the DP money. Does anyone have any more solid info on this? TIA

Ritasueandbobtoo9 · 27/08/2025 21:11

Piffle11 · 27/08/2025 12:42

I don’t know if the direct payment timesheets are the same for every council, but the one we use, we just put down total hours for that four week period.

If your timesheet is similar to ours, I really don’t see how anyone would know if you’re declaring 16 hours per 4 week period and she’s only actually worked 8.

That would be fraud

Piffle11 · 27/08/2025 21:13

Ritasueandbobtoo9 · 27/08/2025 21:11

That would be fraud

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You’re late to the party.

Ritasueandbobtoo9 · 27/08/2025 21:16

Well, yes.

Bobbybobbins · 28/08/2025 08:13

We get a lump sum monthly and pay our carers out of that- we employ 3. We started with 12.50 per hour, 5 years ago. We have had ZERO guidance, support or contact from the LA regarding how we should be increasing wages as NMW has gone up, for example. In line with what I know others are being paid, we have increased to £15 ph this year, obviously accurate number of hours claimed. If the LA were ever to come back at me, I would feel totally justified in discussing their lack of support. We have two disabled children, excellent carers and we cannot lose them.

Typicalwave · 28/08/2025 08:42

Bobbybobbins · 28/08/2025 08:13

We get a lump sum monthly and pay our carers out of that- we employ 3. We started with 12.50 per hour, 5 years ago. We have had ZERO guidance, support or contact from the LA regarding how we should be increasing wages as NMW has gone up, for example. In line with what I know others are being paid, we have increased to £15 ph this year, obviously accurate number of hours claimed. If the LA were ever to come back at me, I would feel totally justified in discussing their lack of support. We have two disabled children, excellent carers and we cannot lose them.

you can pay a PA whatever you like so long as it meets minimum wage as a minimum. This isn’t the issue here.

KitsyWitsy · 28/08/2025 08:44

Bobbybobbins · 28/08/2025 08:13

We get a lump sum monthly and pay our carers out of that- we employ 3. We started with 12.50 per hour, 5 years ago. We have had ZERO guidance, support or contact from the LA regarding how we should be increasing wages as NMW has gone up, for example. In line with what I know others are being paid, we have increased to £15 ph this year, obviously accurate number of hours claimed. If the LA were ever to come back at me, I would feel totally justified in discussing their lack of support. We have two disabled children, excellent carers and we cannot lose them.

Don't you have a payroll service? I just report the hours to the payroll people and they send me a payslip for the worker and I pay out accordingly. I pay the tax too.

As for audits, I've fucked up loads of times over the years. More recently paying out several thousand to hmrc instead of the day centre I was supposed to be paying. As long as you're not pilfering money, they don't care. They just sort it out.

flawlessflipper · 28/08/2025 09:49

@KitsyWitsy during monitoring, audits and reconciliation, genuine mistakes are viewed very differently to intentional fraud. So your genuine mistakes are a totally different situation to the outright fraud advocated by a pp. They would very much care about fraud!

KitsyWitsy · 28/08/2025 09:56

flawlessflipper · 28/08/2025 09:49

@KitsyWitsy during monitoring, audits and reconciliation, genuine mistakes are viewed very differently to intentional fraud. So your genuine mistakes are a totally different situation to the outright fraud advocated by a pp. They would very much care about fraud!

I know.. That's why I said as long as you're not pilfering...they aren't anything to be afraid of. Even if you've messed up.

I have been using the direct payment scheme for about 15 years now I think and have had lots of workers over the years.

flawlessflipper · 28/08/2025 10:00

No-one said audits are anything to be afraid of. Just that LAs can audit people and fraud as advocated by pp can come to light via that and would be dealt with.

Bobbybobbins · 28/08/2025 12:31

KitsyWitsy · 28/08/2025 08:44

Don't you have a payroll service? I just report the hours to the payroll people and they send me a payslip for the worker and I pay out accordingly. I pay the tax too.

As for audits, I've fucked up loads of times over the years. More recently paying out several thousand to hmrc instead of the day centre I was supposed to be paying. As long as you're not pilfering money, they don't care. They just sort it out.

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Yes we use a payroll service which is generally good. Though they do need a close eye keeping on them as they underpaid on several occasions! Lots to keep track of isn’t it, as well as the kids themselves, job etc. I’m not a big fan of being an employer!