UK Government told to stop stalling on mileage allowance increase

BASW England and SASW have this week written to the UK Chancellor urging him to deliver a ‘fair and reasonable’ increase in the non-taxable mileage allowance for social workers.

It follows a recent Westminster Hall debate where a cross-party consensus was reached that the Treasury should use the upcoming Autumn Statement to review and uprate the approved milage allowance payment. MPs were considering a public petition, which garnered over 40,000 signatures, calling on the HMRC mileage rate to be increased from 45p/mile to 60p/mile.

BASW England and SASW support the petition’s calls and have set out their case to the Chancellor about the importance of uprating the non-taxable allowance for social workers and social care staff, given that most local authorities in England and Scotland allow 45p/mile to be claimed back for work purposes.

The letter, sent by Maris Stratulis (BASW England National Director) and Alison Bavidge (SASW National Director) reads:

“Social workers need a mileage allowance rate that takes account of rising fuel costs and adequately covers their travel costs for work purposes. Nobody should be penalised financially for doing their job. Additionally, a fairer rate would help to recruit and retain social workers at a time when the profession urgently needs more capacity to meet increasing demands.

“Social workers and social care staff, need and deserve to be better supported so they, in turn, can provide the best possible help to people. Instead, they currently absorb the impact of rising fuel costs, causing stress and worry when they’re trying to support people, often in difficult circumstances.”

The letter also makes the point that social workers have faced a lost decade for pay growth in the UK labour market while also seeing the cost of fuel rising by 20% in the last five years alone, despite the non-taxable allowance of 45p/mile remaining unchanged since 2011.

The full letter is available to view here.

BASW England and SASW will keep members updated on the response and further campaign developments. Meantime, if you have any comments on the campaign, please contact Josh Dixon (BASW England) on josh.dixon@basw.co.uk or Jonny Adamson (SASW) on jonny.adamson@basw.co.uk