Standard rates

If you employ a PA and have to purchase employer liability insurance the rate is increasing from £61 per year to £67 per year.

Any PAs or care agencies already receiving a higher hourly rate won't receive an uplift. If you need to discuss this please contact your social work team on 03456789044.

If you use your direct payment to purchase day service provision please ask them to email feequeries@shropshire.gov.uk

Most eligible uplifts will be applied by the end of May 2026. All eligible uplifts will be backdated to 1 April 2026. If you have concerns about the information above, please contact us on 0345 678 9044 to request a review.

In 2026/27 the funding you receive to pay your personal assistant(s) has increased from £14.30 to £14.89 per hour (that includes provision for pension and holidays). If you use a payroll service, you'll need to notify your payroll provider that your PA(s) is/are to receive £12.71 (before deductions, eg tax and NI) instead of £12.21, beginning from the first pay reference period in April 2026. 

 

It's important that you do this to ensure that your PA(s) is/are paid the correct rate, and that as an employer you meet your legal requirements regarding paying the national minimum wage.

If your PA(s) is/are self-employed, the new standard rate beginning 1 April 2026 (daytime only and there is no uplift for night-time) will be up to £16.98, as they're required to meet their own tax requirements, have appropriate insurance and don't have paid holiday. This increased funding figure will be backdated to 1 April 2026.

 

If the above rates for either employed or self-employed PAs don't apply to your individual circumstance, for example if your PA(s) already receive above the 2026/27 standard rate, or if you're unsure about any of the information on this page, please email direct.payments@shropshire.gov.uk

If you contract with a care provider, the provider should have received communication regarding the 2% standard rate increase up to £26.70. If they're not aware, please ask them to email   feequeries@shropshire.gov.uk. It's important that you don't agree an increase over the standard rate without first contacting Shropshire Council for authorisation, as you'd be liable for the extra costs.

If you've been financially assessed to pay a contribution, please ensure that you know what the figure is from April 2026, as it may have changed and you'll need to amend your standing order / payment into the direct payment account.  If you're unsure what your contribution is, please email financialassessments@shropshire.gov.uk