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Most of the agencies I've spoken with recently charge about $395 A DAY for live-in caregiving. If you are working 24/7 and living in, you are being underpaid.
That is agency prices. Private prices are different and most of the time the caregiver is paid in cash.
No judgment on families who hire this way because most people can't afford $395 a day for help. No caregiver sees $395 a week in their hand. Most agencies take at least half of that money.
With private hires the wages can be negotiated. The caregiver usually does pretty well and comes out with more in the hand then they'd get from an agency.
Room and board is also factored in as part of the wage agreement. It of course is not a replacement for actual wages, but it is part of the deal.
When the cost of what a rent, food, and utilities are factored in, depending on where the OP lives that $450 a week may be a sweet deal.
Where I live a studio (one room) apartment starts at around $1,100 a month and that's with no utilities.
Do you really need to ask a message board if you are being underpaid?
If you are working 24 hours a day, 7 days a week you are getting paid $2.67 and hour. So YES you are getting underpaid.
$450 a week for 24 hour care is assinine and you are not only being underpaid you are being taken advantage of.
You could work at McDonalds or any other fast food place right now and get paid $14 - $20 an hour depending on where you live. At least then you would have 2 days off a week, and you won't have to work 24 hours a day.
There are reasons why someone doesn't go to work at McDonald's for more money.
Like they're getting paid in cash or they are illegally in the United States and can't work 'on the books'. Or they're getting some form of government assistance and will get cut off it if they show income.
I agree that most workers getting paid in cash are being taken advantage of and many are exploited in other ways too.
That's the price people pay when they work illegally and don't pay taxes on their earnings.
Someone can correct my math but if you’re working 40 hours a week, a normal work week, that’s $11.25 an hour. If you’re receiving room and board, maybe that’s fair, only you can decide. If you’re working more than that or his care needs are intense, then of course you’re underpaid, likely under minimum wage. The biggest question is if you have an employment contract with the person who hired you and if Social Security and taxes are being deducted from your pay. It’s never a good idea to work for cash. Paying into Social Security is for your future and well being, and tax evasion is never wise
Are you a live-in? Are you expected to be there 24/7 with no time off? If so, thats slavery. I think you need to call the County Labor Board and find out what the law concerning live-ins is in ur state.
Next time you work as a Caregiver have a contract. Also, you are not considered self-employed by the IRS. Your employer is responsible for payroll deductions. Working under the table may be a way of not paying taxes, but it means that no money goes into ur SS or Medicare. You cannot collect if u have not paid in.
You are vastly underpaid. Even if you are getting room and board, you're being expected to be on duty all day, every day. It's not a good situation for you.
Based on what we paid for 24/7 care for my FIL when we needed respite care to attend my nephew's wedding - care in our area runs anywhere from $480 to $600 ($20-$25 per hour)for a full 24 caregiver from an agency. They ensure that taxes are taken out, insurance and benefits are covered. This is full time - awake care 24 hours a day.
In our area private caregivers run roughly $300-$400 for 24 hour awake care ($12-$15 per hour). The caregiver would be considered an independent contractor and the person they are caring for or the POA would be responsible for ensuring that the proper legalities are taken care of.
This is all assuming that they are providing 24 hour awake care in shifts with more than one person covering care.
If you are working 40 hours and then you are "off" and not responsible for the care of this person - you would be paid by the hour here but paid for any time you work "on the clock" or however your agreement works if you are private pay.
This is one of the reasons that home care is considered so expensive. It's also one of the reasons my FIL had to be moved to a nursing home. He wanted to stay home but required full time skilled nursing. (he would have actually have needed TWO caregivers with him at all all times so the cost would have double).
Home care for him could have run him close to $400,000 a year through an agency at that $25 an hour.
I supposed I should clarify - I'm not sure I stated it very clearly (even though the math would make it clearer lol) - my numbers were for ONE DAY. One full 24 hour day.
How can one caregiver provide 24/7 hours to their client? That’s my question for you? Also, are you feeling as if you are burning out? Perhaps, that is an even more important question for you?
If you don’t feel like you are able to manage this situation to the best of your ability, you should consider making other arrangements.
You could speak to the person who hired you and ask them to hire additional help and then you would have a reasonable working schedule or work elsewhere.
If you think you're being underpaid, why did you agree to $450 a week to provide round the clock care 24/7 and then stick around for five years?
My guess is that in addition to free room-and-board you're also being paid in cash. Which means you don't pay taxes on your income and are probably getting free medical insurance through Medicaid and food stamps because you don't show any income.
Does this accurately describe your employment situation?
If it does then really you are in no postion to haggle for better pay. If you're in the United States illegally, then you're really in no position to haggle anything.
I have to say you have been especially judgmental lately 🤔 Sometimes people are satisfied with very little because they've never known anything else, but then one day someone or something rips off the blindfold and they begin to ask questions.
It depends on where you live and your "qualifications" The "black and white" of it you are being paid $18.75 per hour. But that is not legal. You can not work 24 hours a day. You need breaks You need days off If you are working more than the maximum hours you need to be paid overtime. If you are being paid "under the table" you are missing out on quarters added to your work history so you now have at least 5 years that are unaccounted for when you wish to collect Social Security. This may also impact your Medicare benefits. So in my opinion you are being not just underpaid but also being cheated out of your future benefits. OK! I was corrected. My math was not just off as cwillie pointed out it was WAY WAY off. You are being paid just under $2.67 per hour. This is way under minimum wage. So yes you are under paid.
Yes, you are woefully underpaid and overworked. Is this 98-yr old's family paying you? Or is this gent paying you himself? What will happen if he passes and owes you money? There's no contract, no proof you were his "employee", nothing to protect yourself. And, if there's no written lease, you'd be kicked out immediately by whomever inherits the house.
Also, if this client is promising you things verbally (like you can have the car after I die) -- none of it will hold up legally. You will be S.O.L. There are many cases of this posted on this forum by desperate former cash-paid live-in caregivers who are finding themselves homeless overnight. They have no legal case or claim to anything promised verbally.
Assuming you are a legal citizen or have a green card, you should consider applying at an agency. Now you have 5 years of experience so you'd be a valuable find. You need to have your own life, assuming you aren't a senior yourself. If you don't pay into SS and Medicare through payroll tax withholding, you are screwing yourself over for your own sunset years of needing care. Medicaid, a critical social "safety net" in elder years, almost never extends to people who are not here legally (just saying, in case this is your scenario).
If you're worried about leaving this client, you can report him to APS as a vulnerable adult. They will take care of all his basic needs. You need to take care of yourself first and foremost.
Hello I can help with this answer that addresses all relevant information because I have 32 years experience. Trust me I’ve seen it all. For starters hiring caregivers privately is a HUGE RISK liability wise. Guess what happens if that privately hired caregiver hurts themselves, or decides they want to fake an injury? YOU are considered the employer and YOU assume all responsibility for any injuries, both real and previous injuries that probably happened years before they started working for your family. If they decide to up and quit, they can run to the unemployment office and start a claim, and guess who’s on the hook to pay those payments? YOU ! I’ve seen this many times. When the unemployment office calls and ask, ‘’have you been paying a caregiver privately?’’ They already know and you can’t get away with it. The unemployment office then asks you, “ have you been paying state and federal employer taxes? Have you been paying unemployment taxes?’’ No you have not, so now you have to back pay ALL those employer taxes AND penalties and fines ( state NR federal add up quickly). If that private caregiver fakes an injury no ER is going to say, “ you’re lying.’’ YOU are now on the hook for the ER visits and scans and often surgery. Don’t doubt me, I know of this exact situation happening on numerous occasions.
Regarding live in services. The law requires that the caregiver be granted 6 to 8 hrs uninterrupted sleep on a regular basis. The law also says the caregiver should have their own space. So essentially the caregiver typically is available 8 to 11 hrs per day, then they can retire anywhere in the home, preferably to their own space or bedroom. I own an agency and we pay our live-in caregivers on average $1300 PER WEEK and they rest at night. Remember hiring an agency protects you completely from any lawsuits, employer taxes, injury claims. If your regular caregiver gets sick, we guarantee a replacement caregiver with no loss of care.
So paying a caregiver under the table IS NOT WORTH THE RISK. PRIVATE CAREGIVERS are not insured, and you become liable. Once those ER bills and dr visits and rehab services are preformed, they expect payment and the local law firm will be contacting you and if you can’t pay. That attorney will then sue your estate or parents estate and you can kiss moms home and assets goodbye as a means to settle the incurred debt.
HIRE an established reputable agency if you are looking for care. If you’re a caregiver don’t get caught not paying taxes, plus you’ll have a steady flow of available work.
You are way underpaid. If this gentleman needs twenty four hours of care, you should be paid a flat rate per day. You are supposed to get at least eight hours of sleep when you are working on an overnight case. However, you may be awakened out of your sleep to perform nursing duties such as turning the patient every two hours or other needed duties such as adult brief changes and etc.
So very true about being awakened during the night. When mom was living with us, I woke up during the night. It’s a big job for one person. Helpers are needed so primary caregivers don’t feel like zombies the next day!
Im the one who posted the question am I getting under pay. Thank you all for your replies. However this is for Burnt out. No I'm not on any type of welfare and my kids are all grown up with collage degrees. I'm 52 years old and if you ask before you voice your somewhat racist opinion you will see it's not that simple. Maybe I should have given more info but you should have not made yourself an a*****e and yes I'm a citizen who served my country in the U S Army.
I wish you had given more info when you posted. In my State the minimum wage is $13, at 24/7 you would be making almost $2200 a week. Room and board is a perk but where Burnt lives you can get paid less because room and board is being provided.
I responded to Burnt. And just have to say that the people who came in for food (we had a food closet), holiday baskets and clothing from that closet, were white. Ages ranged from 20s into 40s primarily. An age group who should have been holding down jobs. Very few were disabled in any way. And we had our regulars who had been coming for years. We had very few Seniors. The ones who really needed the help.
By proceeding, I agree that I understand the following disclosures:
I. How We Work in Washington.
Based on your preferences, we provide you with information about one or more of our contracted senior living providers ("Participating Communities") and provide your Senior Living Care Information to Participating Communities. The Participating Communities may contact you directly regarding their services.
APFM does not endorse or recommend any provider. It is your sole responsibility to select the appropriate care for yourself or your loved one. We work with both you and the Participating Communities in your search. We do not permit our Advisors to have an ownership interest in Participating Communities.
II. How We Are Paid.
We do not charge you any fee – we are paid by the Participating Communities. Some Participating Communities pay us a percentage of the first month's standard rate for the rent and care services you select. We invoice these fees after the senior moves in.
III. When We Tour.
APFM tours certain Participating Communities in Washington (typically more in metropolitan areas than in rural areas.) During the 12 month period prior to December 31, 2017, we toured 86.2% of Participating Communities with capacity for 20 or more residents.
IV. No Obligation or Commitment.
You have no obligation to use or to continue to use our services. Because you pay no fee to us, you will never need to ask for a refund.
V. Complaints.
Please contact our Family Feedback Line at (866) 584-7340 or ConsumerFeedback@aplaceformom.com to report any complaint. Consumers have many avenues to address a dispute with any referral service company, including the right to file a complaint with the Attorney General's office at: Consumer Protection Division, 800 5th Avenue, Ste. 2000, Seattle, 98104 or 800-551-4636.
VI. No Waiver of Your Rights.
APFM does not (and may not) require or even ask consumers seeking senior housing or care services in Washington State to sign waivers of liability for losses of personal property or injury or to sign waivers of any rights established under law.
I agree that:
A.
I authorize A Place For Mom ("APFM") to collect certain personal and contact detail information, as well as relevant health care information about me or from me about the senior family member or relative I am assisting ("Senior Living Care Information").
B.
APFM may provide information to me electronically. My electronic signature on agreements and documents has the same effect as if I signed them in ink.
C.
APFM may send all communications to me electronically via e-mail or by access to an APFM web site.
D.
If I want a paper copy, I can print a copy of the Disclosures or download the Disclosures for my records.
E.
This E-Sign Acknowledgement and Authorization applies to these Disclosures and all future Disclosures related to APFM's services, unless I revoke my authorization. You may revoke this authorization in writing at any time (except where we have already disclosed information before receiving your revocation.) This authorization will expire after one year.
F.
You consent to APFM's reaching out to you using a phone system than can auto-dial numbers (we miss rotary phones, too!), but this consent is not required to use our service.
That is agency prices. Private prices are different and most of the time the caregiver is paid in cash.
No judgment on families who hire this way because most people can't afford $395 a day for help. No caregiver sees $395 a week in their hand. Most agencies take at least half of that money.
With private hires the wages can be negotiated. The caregiver usually does pretty well and comes out with more in the hand then they'd get from an agency.
Room and board is also factored in as part of the wage agreement. It of course is not a replacement for actual wages, but it is part of the deal.
When the cost of what a rent, food, and utilities are factored in, depending on where the OP lives that $450 a week may be a sweet deal.
Where I live a studio (one room) apartment starts at around $1,100 a month and that's with no utilities.
If you are working 24 hours a day, 7 days a week you are getting paid $2.67 and hour. So YES you are getting underpaid.
$450 a week for 24 hour care is assinine and you are not only being underpaid you are being taken advantage of.
You could work at McDonalds or any other fast food place right now and get paid $14 - $20 an hour depending on where you live. At least then you would have 2 days off a week, and you won't have to work 24 hours a day.
There are reasons why someone doesn't go to work at McDonald's for more money.
Like they're getting paid in cash or they are illegally in the United States and can't work 'on the books'. Or they're getting some form of government assistance and will get cut off it if they show income.
I agree that most workers getting paid in cash are being taken advantage of and many are exploited in other ways too.
That's the price people pay when they work illegally and don't pay taxes on their earnings.
For the record, YES, you are being underpaid. Are you being paid under the table?
What are the terms of your caregiving contract?
How old are you?
Next time you work as a Caregiver have a contract. Also, you are not considered self-employed by the IRS. Your employer is responsible for payroll deductions. Working under the table may be a way of not paying taxes, but it means that no money goes into ur SS or Medicare. You cannot collect if u have not paid in.
In our area private caregivers run roughly $300-$400 for 24 hour awake care ($12-$15 per hour). The caregiver would be considered an independent contractor and the person they are caring for or the POA would be responsible for ensuring that the proper legalities are taken care of.
This is all assuming that they are providing 24 hour awake care in shifts with more than one person covering care.
If you are working 40 hours and then you are "off" and not responsible for the care of this person - you would be paid by the hour here but paid for any time you work "on the clock" or however your agreement works if you are private pay.
This is one of the reasons that home care is considered so expensive. It's also one of the reasons my FIL had to be moved to a nursing home. He wanted to stay home but required full time skilled nursing. (he would have actually have needed TWO caregivers with him at all all times so the cost would have double).
Home care for him could have run him close to $400,000 a year through an agency at that $25 an hour.
If you don’t feel like you are able to manage this situation to the best of your ability, you should consider making other arrangements.
You could speak to the person who hired you and ask them to hire additional help and then you would have a reasonable working schedule or work elsewhere.
Best wishes to you.
My guess is that in addition to free room-and-board you're also being paid in cash. Which means you don't pay taxes on your income and are probably getting free medical insurance through Medicaid and food stamps because you don't show any income.
Does this accurately describe your employment situation?
If it does then really you are in no postion to haggle for better pay. If you're in the United States illegally, then you're really in no position to haggle anything.
Sometimes people are satisfied with very little because they've never known anything else, but then one day someone or something rips off the blindfold and they begin to ask questions.
The best NH they looked at was $9500 a MONTH.
Opted to utilize neither.
Too many 'ifs' in this question. I don't think anyone can adequately answer you--since you're not providing much info.
I really hope that your DH and sibs will hire additional help soon!
The "black and white" of it you are being paid $18.75 per hour.
But that is not legal.
You can not work 24 hours a day.
You need breaks
You need days off
If you are working more than the maximum hours you need to be paid overtime.
If you are being paid "under the table" you are missing out on quarters added to your work history so you now have at least 5 years that are unaccounted for when you wish to collect Social Security. This may also impact your Medicare benefits.
So in my opinion you are being not just underpaid but also being cheated out of your future benefits.
OK! I was corrected. My math was not just off as cwillie pointed out it was WAY WAY off. You are being paid just under $2.67 per hour.
This is way under minimum wage. So yes you are under paid.
@cwillie...thank you for correcting me.
Also, if this client is promising you things verbally (like you can have the car after I die) -- none of it will hold up legally. You will be S.O.L. There are many cases of this posted on this forum by desperate former cash-paid live-in caregivers who are finding themselves homeless overnight. They have no legal case or claim to anything promised verbally.
Assuming you are a legal citizen or have a green card, you should consider applying at an agency. Now you have 5 years of experience so you'd be a valuable find. You need to have your own life, assuming you aren't a senior yourself. If you don't pay into SS and Medicare through payroll tax withholding, you are screwing yourself over for your own sunset years of needing care. Medicaid, a critical social "safety net" in elder years, almost never extends to people who are not here legally (just saying, in case this is your scenario).
If you're worried about leaving this client, you can report him to APS as a vulnerable adult. They will take care of all his basic needs. You need to take care of yourself first and foremost.
For starters hiring caregivers privately is a HUGE RISK liability wise. Guess what happens if that privately hired caregiver hurts themselves, or decides they want to fake an injury? YOU are considered the employer and YOU assume all responsibility for any injuries, both real and previous injuries that probably happened years before they started working for your family. If they decide to up and quit, they can run to the unemployment office and start a claim, and guess who’s on the hook to pay those payments? YOU ! I’ve seen this many times.
When the unemployment office calls and ask, ‘’have you been paying a caregiver privately?’’ They already know and you can’t get away with it. The unemployment office then asks you, “ have you been paying state and federal employer taxes? Have you been paying unemployment taxes?’’
No you have not, so now you have to back pay ALL those employer taxes AND penalties and fines ( state NR federal add up quickly).
If that private caregiver fakes an injury no ER is going to say, “ you’re lying.’’
YOU are now on the hook for the ER visits and scans and often surgery. Don’t doubt me, I know of this exact situation happening on numerous occasions.
Regarding live in services. The law requires that the caregiver be granted 6 to 8 hrs uninterrupted sleep on a regular basis. The law also says the caregiver should have their own space. So essentially the caregiver typically is available 8 to 11 hrs per day, then they can retire anywhere in the home, preferably to their own space or bedroom.
I own an agency and we pay our live-in caregivers on average $1300 PER WEEK and they rest at night. Remember hiring an agency protects you completely from any lawsuits, employer taxes, injury claims. If your regular caregiver gets sick, we guarantee a replacement caregiver with no loss of care.
So paying a caregiver under the table IS NOT WORTH THE RISK.
PRIVATE CAREGIVERS are not insured, and you become liable. Once those ER bills and dr visits and rehab services are preformed, they expect payment and the local law firm will be contacting you and if you can’t pay. That attorney will then sue your estate or parents estate and you can kiss moms home and assets goodbye as a means to settle the incurred debt.
HIRE an established reputable agency if you are looking for care. If you’re a caregiver don’t get caught not paying taxes, plus you’ll have a steady flow of available work.
Best of luck to you. Caregiving is the hardest thing I have ever done. Mom lived with us for many years.
I responded to Burnt. And just have to say that the people who came in for food (we had a food closet), holiday baskets and clothing from that closet, were white. Ages ranged from 20s into 40s primarily. An age group who should have been holding down jobs. Very few were disabled in any way. And we had our regulars who had been coming for years. We had very few Seniors. The ones who really needed the help.