Hello, I am looking to get some response from nannies as well as parents. I am an experienced nanny that has worked with several special needs children as well as typical children. Lately every interview I go on for a nanny position for special needs is presented that I would be paid through a government respite care waiver (no problem have dealt with that before.)
Now here is the dilemma: the waiver only pays the care giver 8.77 an hour which is much lower than I start at for a typical child much less one with special needs. Pretty much every parent is insistent on the inflexibility of the pay. Also, there would be no hope in normal raises unless the government decides to up the pay which is unlikely. Plus I would not get paid for days parents take off or when I don't work when they go on vacation or child has appointments etc because I can't claim the hours to the waiver that I have not actually worked. In each interview when I have brought up the idea of the parents paying three or four dollars an hour in addition to the waiver pay I have been told no.
I understand that special needs children have a lot of extra costs but how can they really expect a high quality nanny with special needs experience to work for 8.77 an hour. Are there other nannies here that get paid through this type of waiver and if so how do you make it work? Are there parents that employ caregivers through this type of thing that can give me some insight? I have nannied for special needs children before and love it but not sure about this new trend of lower pay for watching a special needs child than a child without special needs. Am I being unreasonable? - Anonymous
28 comments:
I am a special needs mom who has a nanny through our state's waiver program. Our state pays $10/hr--but I agree, it's not enough. So, we pay extra and try our best to do extra things for her--We adore her and want to keep her. I also know other families who do the same.GL!
That's ludicrous! It should be a supplement for the parents, not full pay! I'm pretty sure that type of waiver would be intended for assistance with the extra care costs - ie. so the parents can add 7 dollars an hour to pay a good nanny 15 dollars, etc. I can't believe parents think they are entitled to ONLY pay 8.77. That's ridiculous.
I have hadrian interviews in the last month with parents of special needs children and each one has said the pay is firm at 8.77. Its just frustrates me because I love working with special needs kids but can't afford that little amount for the care I give. Not suprisingly many of the parents are very cautious because have had horrible experiences with thier former childcare such as instances of caregivers abusing or ignoring the child all day. I think anyone that abuses children is horrible but really what other kind of people do you expect to agree to little pay but someone that will stick a child in a crib and watch tv all day. It's sad and frustrating, never had parents offering so low pay for quality care like I have encountered recently.
So these parents get free daycare essentially?? No one is going to go the extra mile for minimum wage. Shame on them.
Shame on them for what? For having a special needs child? For not being able to afford a nanny? Who are you to judge them? Our income is $1,500 a month for three people. Do you honestly think my family could afford to pay for a nanny, when we struggle to cover food and medication? We don't even have a car. Have a heart. Just because I have a child with special needs doesn't automatically mean that we can afford a nanny.
You can't afford to live on minimum wage, I get that. So shouldn't you be understanding that the parents also can't afford a nanny? Can you afford a nanny? I would expect you to be more understanding.
I hear ya.
I think the parents should offer to pony up some extra money $$ in addition to the $8.77 they receive from the government. That would be ideal.
Since the pay is not acceptable to you, I would just move on and find another job.
Perhaps the family can find a teen-ager to watch the child at that low rate.
In theory, the parents should have to supplement that government money with more of their own money, afterall, the parents would have to pay their own money for a nanny if their child was not special needs, in my opinion. However, there are sometimes huge expenses that go along with a child with special needs and so money is tight! Also, parents of a child with special needs don't always have the option to explore other childcare settings that parents of children without special needs have.
What it boils down to is that you are finding that the majority of people hiring a nanny for their child with special needs cannot afford to supplement the government money with their own money. If that is all they are offering, you can either take it or leave it. I agree with you that it is unfortunate because you seem to really be eager to work with a child with special needs (which is awesome!) but you also need to support yourself.
OP, do you have a college degree?
I have an associates degree....I also am an ordained childrens pastor. So I have been through school but not the typical "secular" degree. I have nannied for two familes with special needs children (both are now in school full time). I understand the cost of a special needs child, my younger brother has down syndrome....Its just a catch 22 here because I get that many can't afford toay above the waiver but that amount is just pretty low. I guess the government needs to assist a little more especially because that 8.77 is even before taxes are taken out.
It really is a shame that the money is just not there! Believe me, I can relate. I work for early intervention so I am working with children who either have a diagnosis or are delayed in one or more areas of development. It really is important work and (in my biased opinion) deserves more money! I know everyone says that about their job but it just kills me that we work so hard and do important work yet celebrities just exist and make millions :(
Anyway, the reason I asked about the degree was to possibly suggest working at a school for special needs. I think even a teacher's aid (a good place to start) would make more money than the $8.77 you are being offered.
do NOT take the job
I agree don't take the job. I agree with Strawberry. Why don't you try a position as an aide. There are more and more of these positions opening. In my son's class of 13. They have three aides and the main teacher. It isn't even an autism classroom.
I think they make at least $12 an hour. Its a public school so not sure if they receive benefits. It doesn't hurt to check out the school district in your area.
Also, if you have a special needs child morelikely you can receive social security. That money is supposed to be used on the kids. Maybe, some should be used to offset the childcare wage
Does the amount the waiver covers vary from state to state? Because I've been to a few job interviews that would pay through respite care, but the pay was around $14, much more reasonable. This was in NY, and from what I gather they have some very good early intervention programs for special needs kids, so that could be part of it.
I would guess the amount varies as an above poster said her state the wage was ten an hour. I live in Virginia where cost of living is not as high as NY but still nannies tend to start at the lowest 10 an hour around here. And those are usually nannies with no experience. I think the government even setting the rate that low is sad.
If you're getting $8.77 from the government, I don't see why the parents can't supplement with $2 or $3 per hour. It isn't that much!
Miss frowny-face, asking us all to have a heart...I'm assuming that you don't have a nanny because you know you can't afford it. Most logical people have figured out that if you can't afford something, you don't try to buy it. Logical does not equal heartless.
This is not true. More than likely you do not receive SS for a disabled child. Only if the child meets the criteria for SS & most disabled children do not & if you financially qualify, most families do not.
Saying shame on them is heartless which is what I was responding to.
Sorry, but this post angers me. Ericsmom is 100% correct.
(I'm only directing this post to those that are disabled enough to receive social security)
Special needs children receive BOTH a childcare waiver AND Social Security benefits (NOT including the aid that can also be gotten from SOCIAL SERVICES... depending on what state you live in) so the parents receiving all of these benefits should offer an extra few dollars above the amount of the waiver.
SS benefits are supposed to be for: housing/entertainment/clothes/food/schooling/childcare/etc (in full support of) children. It pisses me off when I find out a child receives SS and the parents blow it on other things that aren't necessary for the welfare of that child. There is NO damn reason, especially with the really decent amount SS pays in benefits for most children, that parents can't kick in a few extra dollars. That is exactly what SS benefits are supposed to be for: the BENEFIT of the child!
@ Jul 24, 2012 3:25:00 AM
"... said...
This is not true. More than likely you do not receive SS for a disabled child. Only if the child meets the criteria for SS & most disabled children do not & if you financially qualify, most families do not."
HUH??? What do you mean "most disabled children do not qualify for SS"?? You are talking in circles. ANY child thats disabled (yes, there are varying degrees of disability) but we're talking about those that QUALIFY for SS here. That's what this whole conversation has been about! So getting past that, this is about THOSE that DO collect SS and receive a waiver for respite care -- the parents rightfully SHOULD kick in a few extra dollars FROM SS BENEFITS!
If a child is disabled, they usually can qualify to receive SSI. The parents should use this money to assist in the payment of the respite care.
Many children can qualify for SSI, but it is not easy.
I tried to get my son on it for a mental disability and he was denied. Many times.
Our lawyer at the time told us it is harder for children to qualify and he told us it will be easier to qualify once he turns 18.
Maci,
I know a lot about SSI/SSA. May I ask how many times you've applied? Usually once you're turned down, it is best to get a lawyer when you appeal. However, it's more difficult now to get approved then years past, and that's a shame. It has been this way for about 10yrs.
Depending on your son's mental disability, your lawyer is right, and you may have wait and re-apply when he turns 18.
May I guess... are you trying to get SS because your son is ADHD? Do you know that social security allows for this? (At least, they did, not sure if they still do it - I haven't checked in over a year) And to be honest, I was shocked. Maybe because I'm on the fence about ADHD. I'm not sure it's a real illness, and if it is, it's definitely over-diagnosed. Kids several decades ago were just considered hyper and they got along fine enough without being medicated.
Either way, if I were you, I'd get a second opinion if you honestly believe SS is due to your son. If you work and pay taxes, it's your right as an american citizen to collect for him.
OP, this is a really unfortunate situation, but I think at this point, you just need to start looking for jobs that aren't being paid through government waivers--and if you continue to want to interview to care for special needs children, make sure to discuss pay pre-interview, over the phone, instead of wasting time interviewing for jobs you can't afford to work.
There's nothing wrong with that--it's a sad situation for everyone, but it doesn't make you heartless to turn down jobs that don't pay well enough. You're not being unreasonable at all--and if you feel guilty, why not find a job that DOES pay the wages that you need, and then volunteer with special needs children periodically on the side?
What you're not understanding is families who qualify for SSI for their children only do so because they're living on a very low income. SSI is income based. Where are they supposed to come up money for a nanny? Its unrealistic.
They're poor. Where is this nanny money supposed to come from?
Oh, I disagree. I've lived with myself for 30+ years; being naturally very high energy/hyper. In the 1980s, I spent a lot of time in the hallway @ school, bc I couldn't sit still. Sometimes, I couldn't even sit, Id get into trouble for standing next to my desk. Hyper kids didn't get along fine before ADHD was dx, we struggled & were labeled as "troubled" & socially premoted. I'm not troubled, I have a busy mind & when I'm sitting in a classroom I struggle to stay on topic. I'm endlessly trying to dig deeper into each new nugget of information. I don't mindlessly nod & accept what I'm told @ face value. Having ADHD can be mentally exhausting. A relative of mine has ADHD & had to use a tape recorder in her college courses, so she could go back & hear what she missed, when her mind wondered. Its a real disability. Sometimes our minds move much swifter than others & we seek more information than were given. I wouldn't change who I am bc this is exactly how I was meant to be. But if I could change others understanding & perceptions, I would. :-)
These families who have kids on SSI are very low income. Its ridiculous to suggest they have the ability to pay $7 an hour for child care. The child care providers are underpaid, I agree. But they money isn't going to be coming from a poor family that qualifies for SSI. I think the government needs to pay about twice as much as they are.
So many incorrect statements above:
Children under 18 only get SSDI if they meet strict diagnostic criteria and the parents make an insanely low amount. My child has a severe genetic disabilty and will not qualify until 18 due to our income. At that time, he must pay market rent on his room, bathroom and a portion of his living expenses to us. After this is deducted from his approx $647month, he will be in the hole to us. All of this is overseen by a court overseer and a formal accounting must be filed every 3 months. If he receives any cash, gift cards, what the government considers "extravagent lifestyle" ie: a trip to Disney,it will be deducted from his $647. In the state of Washington, there is a 6 YEAR wait for childcare waivers, again for the very low income only.
The only thing my child "gets" is to attend Special Ed classes. They cost less than classes for high achievers, the football team and other more sexy options.
I agree in paying more than $8.77/hour if your state allows supplementation of the waiver and parents can afford it. I would pay a lot more, but not more than I would pay for one so-called normal kid. My kid is low-key, sweet tempered, no acting out, uses basic signs to communicate very well, or will pull you by the hand around the house to get what he needs. He only needs help in pulling up his pants after toileting and washing his hands, many sitters over the years have said he was the easiest sitting job ever. So, I would not even consider any one who demands a premium on the basis of a special needs label without looking at the actual situation.
I like your post but I think you mean SSDI. SSI is what children get when they're disabled enough to qualify & their familys income is considered near poverty level. SSDI is what once-working adults receive if they are disabled for a year or more with a condition or conditions that prevent gainful employment.(more than $600/month)
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