Live-in Carer FAQ's

Q. What is a ‘Live-in Carer’?

A ‘Live-in Carer’ is a professionally qualified carer who lives in the home of the person they are caring for. They Can live with that person for a little as a week or for several weeks at a time. Often Live-in Carers will take a week/two to rest and then return, providing continuity of care and regular work for themselves. 

Q. How much will I get paid? 

A. Every booking (this is what we call a job), is different. We discuss a suggested rate with new clients based on the needs of the condition. However, ultimately as a self-employed Live-in Carer you can suggest your own rate. This would be the amount you would like to earn; we will then present to the client for you.

Q. Why is being self-employed beneficial? 

A. Being a self-employed Live-in Carer allows you the freedom to choose your clients. You can also choose your rate, location and the amount of Live-in care work you want. We help you by discussing your ideal client and your availability to work. We then match the dates to the Live-in care bookings (this is what we call a job) we have. Being a self-employed Live-in Carer provides a great work/life balance and lots of flexibility.

Q. How much work can I get?

A. That is really up to you and what work patterns you are looking for! We have a selection of Live-in care bookings (this is what we call a job), with varying dates and lengths. If your profile matches the needs of the clients, you are able come forward for as many Live-in care jobs as you like. The same way you have the freedom to choose your clients, our clients have the right to pick the self-employed Live-in Carer they want from a selection.

Q. Do I need experience?

A. To be a self-employed Live-in Carer, you will need provide us with Live-in care Training certificates. The subjects we would be looking for are (First Aid, Moving & Handling, Safeguarding People from Abuse and Medication). Beyond this we ensure the Live-in Carer we present to our client has the correct levels of experience to match the client’s condition. And of course, the more bookings (this is what we call a job), you take on the more Live-in care experience you gain!

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Q. What happens if my client wakes up during the night?  

A. As you know, this is all part of the job of a self-employed ‘Live-in Carer’. Your client may well wake up a couple of times a night. We know that our lovely self-employed Live-in Carers don’t mind this at all. If, however, your client is waking up and needing your help a lot then during the night. We need to help the family arrange more care for them. Just give the office a call and we will be happy to help.

Q. Do I have to provide Live-in care for anyone else in the house, other than the client?  

A. When we advertise a booking (this is what we call a job), let you know how many people you would be looking after. It might be that some of our clients are married or live with other family members. If this is the case they may have asked us to find them a carer happy to cook for them too. They may have also asked for you to pop the washing in the machine for everyone. It’s part of living with a family. If any ‘extra care’ is needed for other family members you would of course be paid for that service We will have also included it in the terms of the job before giving you the details.

Q. Do I need to pay for and bring my own PPE?   

A. Yes, you do. As a self-employed Live-in Carer you need to buy your own gloves, aprons, masks, anti-bac gels etc. Do remember though that you are able to claim for it as an ‘allowable business expense’. Here’s a handy link for more info on this -  allowable business expense. 

Q. Do I have to pay for travel?   

A. Yes, pretty much all the time as you are travelling to and from your place of work.

It might be that paid travel is a requirement of yours in order to be presented to the client. If this is the case, then you would need to make this clear to us when coming forward for the booking. This is so we can let the client know your request of travel costs being covered. Ultimately it is down to the client whether or not they are happy to cover this.

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Q. What do I need to register with you?

A. To register with Access Care as a self-employed Live-in Carer we will check your:

Identity, right to work in the UK, Training, Experience, Work history, Criminal Record, References, UTR number, Hobbies & Interests.

For more information, visit (Link to Registration Requirements Page).

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Q. Where can I work?    

A. Where would you like to work, this is the question? The beauty of being a self-employed Live-in Carer is that you can choose where you work. You can even choose how long you work for and how much you earn, how lovely is that!

Q. How quickly can I get work?    

A. This depends exactly what you are looking for, and what your requirements for work are. Once registered as a self-employed Live-in Carer, if you are happy to take work then we can find you work very quickly. The longer the list of requirements you have, then it may take us longer to find your perfect client. We promise to always keep you informed of how we are doing when looking for work for you. If you want an update at any time, just give us a call, we are always happy to help.

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Q. What general expenses can I claim and how does this work?    

A. When you work with us, you are registered as a self-employed worker with HMRC. As a self-employed person, you are therefore responsible for paying income tax on your earnings. There are special tax reliefs and allowances which self-employed people can claim. Each time you purchase anything directly for your work (an expense) you can put it into your tax return, so the cost is deducted from the tax you owe.

Costs you can claim as allowable expenses:

These include:  

• Admin costs, e.g. stationery, a portion of your mobile phone bill, paper, pens for recording care, computer software 

• Travel costs, e.g. fuel & mileage if you use your own car to take your clients out

• Clothing expenses, e.g. PPE – Your Gloves & Aprons etc

• Financial expenses e.g. if you use an accountant or the App you use has a charge for it

• Care Worker Insurance – The Cost of your insurance for the year

• Professional Memberships – if you are a member of a group​

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If you have an Accountant then talk to them about this and our top tip – KEEP YOUR RECEIPTS for everything! You can’t claim expenses unless you have a receipt. You can contact the HMRC Self-Assessment helpline if you’re not sure whether a business cost is an allowable expense, or if you have any problems with your self-assessment return. 

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Q. What Admin expenses can I claim?

A. The key here is to think of yourself as a little business. Now, what ‘things’ do you use to ‘run’ you! Here’s a few ideas for starters:

• Pens & Notebooks – We all know that as a great Live-in Carer you will be recording all the work you do and the care you give. Therefore, the ‘stationery’ you use to do this is an ‘allowable expense’ – so next time you pop to the Newsagent remember to save your receipts for stationery!

• Software & Apps Subscriptions – Do you use a App to help you track your expenses or some computer software or even a printer that uses ink and cartridges? These are  ‘allowable expenses’ so you can claim for these too!

• Do you have a phone bill? Sill question! Of course you do – well, this is another ‘allowable expense’ so show you bills to your accountant and any calls that are 100% work related can be claimed for.

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So save those receipts and bills!  Make sure you keep them!  Either upload them to you bookkeeping app or save them neatly in a folder and write on them what each purchase was for (if not clear), Then, at the end of the year give them to your Accountant.  A little bit of work here will save you money!

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Here's a handy link for you to get more help and advice on your tax returns

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/hm-revenue-customs/contact/self-assessment

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Q. What Travel expenses can I claim?

A. According to HMRC as a registered ‘self-employed person’ with no ‘permanent place of work’ you can claim any travel necessary for your work. So if you drive your client in your own car, or they ask you to go to the shops and to get there you take a bus/taxi etc or drive your own car them you can claim this as a legitimate work travel expense.

You can also claim for your train/milage to get to your client.

Mileage

If you do use your own car for work then you can claim 45p per mile – so make sure you log the number of miles you travel in each journey so you can calculate this. An easy way to do this is to keep a notebook in your car and write down the milage at the beginning of your journey and at the end and work out the difference.

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Parking

You can save your parking tickets when you park (if you are working) and claim these too. However, you cannot claim for fines!

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Again, don’t forget to save ALL YOUR RECEIPTS and travel tickets and give these to your accountant. In the event that HMRC decide to audit you (check what you are saying is true) then you will need to show all of these.

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Q. What Clothing expenses can I claim?

A. You can claim for 'Personal Protective Equipment' (PPE) that is essential for you to use during your work to keep you and your client safe. PPE, such as gowns, gloves, aprons, masks, and goggles, provides a physical barrier that prevents your hands, skin, clothing, eyes, nose, and mouth from contacting infectious agents. All PPE is an allowable tax expense for you so it's essential you keep all of your receipts to claim and reduce your tax bill.

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TOP TIP:  Here's one that many self-employed carers don't realise - just because you aren't given a uniform it doesn't mean you can’t buy one for yourself.

• Uniforms you have purchased yourself, and other clothing strictly required to carry out your role as a self-employed carer, are all classed as an allowable business expense.

• So, if you buy clothes that you use solely for your job, some great comfy shoes that you probably wouldn’t wear in your personal life and clothes that allow you to look smart but also flexible enough to enable you to support your client professionally for example and again, you don't wear this in your 'personal life then yes, absolutely - save those receipts and put them through as an allowable business expense.

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Here's a handy link for you to get more help and advice on your tax returns

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/hm-revenue-customs/contact/self-assessment

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Q. What Professional Membership expenses can I claim?

A. If you are a member of a group that you network with or is connected to your job as a carer in some way and has a paid subscription then you can claim this back through your tax return. Your DBS anual subscription can be claimed too.

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Q. What other expenses can I claim?

A. Financial costs, e.g. Accountancy, insurance or bank charges all count as allowable business expenses for professional carers.

• Accountancy: If you do decide to hire an accountant or bookkeeper to keep on top of your business finances, as long as you keep the invoice for the work they have carried out you can put it through as an allowable business expense.

• Insurance policies: whether that be your self-employed care worker insurance or your car insurance policy you are using for business purposes you can claim both as an allowable business expense.

• Bank charges: As a self-employed carer you will have a business account which may come with bank charges, you can claim business costs for bank, overdraft and credit card charges as well as interest on bank and business loans.

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It is worth noting you cannot claim for repayments of loans, overdrafts or finance agreements but only the interest they accrue.

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Here's a handy link for you to get more help and advice on your tax returns

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/hm-revenue-customs/contact/self-assessment

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