Home care workers face fuel cost spike fears

Home care workers are struggling with soaring fuel costs as many employers pay mileage rates that fail to cover expenses, industry representatives warn. The crisis is exacerbated by a global fuel shortage triggered by the Iran war [1][2]. Amanda Nottingham, a carer with Sheffield-based Visiting Angels, drives between 100-300 miles a week and spends up to £400 a month on fuel [1]. Her employer pays 35p per mile, which she says is a "massive help" but does not cover the full cost [1]. "I think it should be a necessity that all carers get paid for their travel and their fuel," Nottingham stated [1]. Unleaded petrol is now 26.7p per litre more expensive than it was three months ago, at the start of the Iran conflict [1]. The global fuel crisis stems from the closure of the Strait of Hormuz—a passage for about 20% of the world's oil trade—and attacks on energy infrastructure, disrupting supplies and driving up prices worldwide [2]. The Homecare Association reports that four out of five care workers use their own vehicles, and 60% of providers pay mileage at 40p per mile or below [1]. Chancellor Rachel Reeves recently announced a new tax-free mileage rate of 55p per mile [1]. However, Dr. Jane Townson, the association's chief executive, said most employers cannot afford this rate because local authorities and NHS integrated care boards pay an average of only £24 per hour for home care services, while the calculated minimum sustainable price for 2026-27 is £34.42 per hour [1]. Dan Archer, chief executive of Visiting Angels, said the system is "being propped up on the goodwill of carers" who should not be subsidizing care packages themselves [1]. The economic strain on care workers mirrors broader inflationary pressures linked to the fuel crisis, which threatens energy security and risks stagflation in many countries [2]. A government spokesperson said the administration is "determined to keep costs down for motorists" and is taking action, including extending a fuel duty cut and implementing a Fair Pay Agreement for carers [1].