General Election Blog: Increase the non-taxable mileage rate

BASW has set out 40 priorities for the next UK Government that we’ll highlight to all political parties ahead of the General Election. Our blog series takes a deeper look at each of the policy asks in turn.
Mileage

Increase the non-taxable mileage rate allowance to 60p a mile

Social workers depend on using their cars to carry out assessments and provide essential support every day. They have statutory responsibilities, including the protection of children, and travelling to carry out visits to the child’s home is imperative to fulfilling their role effectively and, when required, urgently.

Historically the non-taxable allowance of 45p a mile has been linked to, or used as, the mileage rate employers across the UK use to allow social workers, and social care staff, to claim back for using their car for work purposes.

This amount has remained unchanged since 2011. Yet, the cost of fuel has increased by 20% over the past five years alone, and the cost-of-living more broadly has risen sharply. In amongst this, social workers have experienced a lost decade for pay growth in the UK labour market, at 4.1% compared to 15% seen by the typical worker for the same period. Put simply, the sums don’t add up.

The result is that social workers and social care workers across the UK are being penalised financially for doing their jobs. The problem is even more acutely felt in rural areas, where professionals will be expected to travel long distances during working hours every day. 

Nobody should be expected to absorb the impact of rising costs to carry out their role. It not only shows a lack of respect and understanding towards our profession, but adds even more stress and pressure onto professionals who are working hard to support children, adults and families in already difficult circumstances. It’s neither fair nor sustainable to continue down this route.

Last year, an e-petition calling for the mileage rate to rise to 60p a mile, which was signed by over 42,000 people UK-wide, was brought to the House of Commons. Whilst the approved mileage allowance payment is at the discretion of individual employers, UK Ministers could raise the non-taxable rate to 60p. 

BASW expressed wholehearted support for the petition, and wrote to the Chancellor, Jeremy Hunt to add our weight to these calls on behalf of the social work profession. The move followed similar representations taking place in Scotland by SASW and has also received the backing of SWU. 

A fairer, more reasonable rate is undoubtedly needed to adequately cover travel costs for the social work and social care professions, ensuring nobody is out of pocket for doing their job. It would also help to achieve parity with the rates agreed for NHS staff across the country and support the recruitment and retention of social workers at a time when the profession urgently requires more capacity to meet increasing demand. 

Social workers and social care staff need, and deserve, to be better supported and valued by the next UK Government. Implementing a long overdue uprate to the non-taxable limit would be a good start.