National Insurance tax hike difference between 'petrol and meal' says care worker

8 September 2021, 10:44 | Updated: 8 September 2021, 11:12

Care worker speaks to LBC after tax hike to pay for social care

By Luke O'Reilly

A care worker has told Nick Ferrari that paying the National Insurance increase is the difference between “petrol in the car and a meal that day."

Pat Jones told Nick that she earns just £8.91 an hour, and works 60-70 hours per week caring for vulnerable people in her community in Bridgend to make ends meet.

“£20 probably doesn’t mean anything to the Conservative party”, Pat said. 

"But to people like me it’s the difference between putting petrol in the car or having a meal that day. It is a lot of money.

“Our people are already working 60-70 hours per week because that’s the only way that you can survive on minimum wage.”

On top of that, Liz revealed that she only receives statutory sick pay [SSP], at £96.35 per week.

Nick asked her why she does her job, when the conditions are so poor.

“We do it because we care”, she said.

“I think that has been used and abused."

It comes after Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced a 1.25% increase in National Insurance to find spiralling social care costs.

That will cost an extra £20 a month for Brits on the national average of £30,000 a year.

Earlier, Nick blasted Health Secretary Sajid Javid over where the Brexit Bus’ "£350m a week for the NHS" had gone.

Mr Johnson has claimed that the tax hike will improve the quality of care in the UK.

However, Pat said that the extra money wouldn’t help care workers at all, as they get their funding from local government and not the NHS.

Instead, she warned that care workers are “leaving in droves” because their wages are so low.

“All this talk is about the NHS, but our finding doesn’t come from the NHS, it comes from local government, so there will be no benefit."

More Nick Ferrari

See more More Nick Ferrari

'Our wombs are owned by Westminister': Myleene Klass hits out at government for neglecting women going through baby loss

'Our wombs are owned by Westminster': Myleene Klass hits out at government for neglecting women experiencing baby loss

Exclusive
Nick Ferrari Challenge: Can LBC’s Henry Riley recreate Daniel Khalife’s prison escape?

Nick Ferrari Challenge: Can LBC’s Henry Riley recreate Daniel Khalife’s dramatic prison escape?

Exclusive
Mandy Damari, the mother of Emily Damari - the last remaining British citizen being held hostage in Gaza - has pleaded with Sir Keir Starmer to help bring her daughter home as she looked back on the harrowing events of October 7.

'It nearly broke my heart': Mother of British hostage Emily Damari blasts Downing Street over vetoed Gaza deal

Exclusive
Jane Rubens, 73, from Edinburgh was hit by a large vehicle in early November and remains in a coma.

Insurance firm gave Brit 'less than 24 hours' to make a decision against doctors’ advice after mum suffered brain injury

Exclusive
LBC’s Nick Ferrari has remembered being spiked while at a party.

‘The whole world was spinning’: Nick Ferrari candidly recalls drink spiking as he shares 'appalling' side-effects

Exclusive
‘The storm of war is gathering’: Defence cuts leave UK critically unprepared for a 'bumpy decade', warns ex-minister

‘The storm of war is gathering’: Defence cuts leave UK 'woefully unprepared' for a 'bumpy decade', warns ex-minister

Education Secretary Bridget Philipson 'hasn't changed her mind' and will vote against assisted dying bill

Education Secretary Bridget Philipson 'hasn't changed her mind' and will vote against assisted dying bill

Nick Ferrari takes to the streets of the US to ask Americans: 'Can you identify these British politicians?'

Nick Ferrari takes to the streets of the US to ask Americans: 'Can you identify these British politicians?'

Why did Trump win and why did Harris lose? Nick Ferrari asks American voters

Why did Trump win and Harris lose? Nick Ferrari asks American voters in the wake of US election results

Nick Ferrari attends his first Trump rally in Pennsylvania as he meets the crowd in 'the poorest city in the United States'

Nick Ferrari attends his first Trump rally in Pennsylvania as he meets the crowd in 'the poorest city in the US'

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has said she strongly disagrees with a tweet that a backbench MP appeared to have reposted saying Kemi Badenoch represents "white supremacy in blackface".

Cooper condemns 'appalling' tweet shared by Dawn Butler labelling Kemi Badenoch 'white supremacy in blackface'

Exclusive
Cumberland County: Where the US election could be won or lost

Nick Ferrari travels to America for the US Election: Watch the best bits here

Exclusive
The Chancellor was speaking to LBC's Nick Ferrari at Breakfast

Chancellor ‘doesn’t know’ salary of new chairman tasked with ensuring government ‘value for money'

Transparency over Southport stabbings key to avoiding 'deep public mistrust in the criminal justice system', says Jenrick

Transparency over Southport stabbings key to avoiding 'deep public mistrust' in criminal justice system, says Jenrick

Exclusive
The government has introduced its football governance bill.

'We're on the same side': Minister denies feud with Premier League over Football Governance Bill

Exclusive
Protest sign reading Danger water pollution, this water is polluted with raw sewage. The responsible party is Thames Water. River Wey, Guildford, UK

Government warns demand for water could outstrip supply as they launch review into 'broken' sector