We want to make sure you are aware that starting from 1 April 2023, if you pay your personal assistants (PAs) at the current National Minimum Wage or National Living Wage, you will need to increase their pay, as the rates are increasing.
The amount you will need to pay varies depending on your PAs age as shown below.
| 23 and over | 21 to 22 | 18 to 20 | Under 18 | |
| April 2023 | £10.42 | £10.18 | £7.49 | £5.28 |
You can find more on the GOV.UK website: https://www.gov.uk/national-minimum-wage-rates.
We understand that this may cause concern for some of you with tight budgets, but please know that we are here to support you through this transition.
Please remember that your local authority is not obligated to increase your Direct Payment amount automatically, so if you need help with budgeting, please contact our Information and Advice team.
If you are considering reducing your PA’s hours, please contact us before doing so, as you may be required to consult with them before making any changes. We want to make sure that you are aware of all your options before making any decisions that may impact your care.
If you feel that your Personal Budget is insufficient to meet your needs, please request a review with your allocated social worker. If you do not have an allocated social worker, please contact the relevant social care team.
However, please be aware that you may have to wait for a review and in the meantime, will need to use any surplus or accrual in your Direct Payment account, to cover the cost of the legally required increase to the PA hourly rate. If you do not have any accrual in your account, please inform the social worker of this, when you contact them to request a review.
If you have questions about this or anything else relating to your Direct Payment, please call our Information and Advice team on 01903 219482 and select option three. You can also contact them via email at advice@independentlives.org.
