Pennsylvania Home Care Workers Face Deadline for Budgeted Pay Raises
Pennsylvania home care workers see life-changing impact from wage increases that jumped pay from $12.24 to $17.50 per hour, with advocates pushing for continued funding.
HARRISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA — Pennsylvania home care workers are advocating for continued wage increases as a deadline approaches for implementing budgeted raises that have already provided significant relief to thousands of caregivers across the state.
Suzanne Ott, a home care worker from the greater Erie area, shared the impact of recent wage increases during a press conference Tuesday at the state Capitol. Ott saw her hourly wage rise from $12.24 to $17.50 starting January 1, following the state’s allocation of $21 million to boost wages in the last budget cycle.
“This month, for the very first time, I was able to pay my mortgage on time. No late fees. I paid my bills and I still had a little bit of money left over,” Ott said. “I’m actually saving for a car … that’s what this raise means. It’s not extra; it’s stability.”
Daily Challenges for Care Workers
Ott’s typical workday begins like many parents, getting her children ready for school. She then transitions to her role as a caregiver, cooking, bathing, and dressing someone with a disability that prevents them from living independently.
“It is not a part-time commitment, and for a long time, I was doing it all for $12.24 an hour,” Ott explained at the Capitol event. “Everything for me was a struggle. My groceries, my utilities, my mortgage, my bills were going up … No matter what I did, I felt like I just could not get ahead.”
Participant-Directed Care Model
Ott operates under a participant-directed model, meaning she doesn’t work for an agency. Instead, the person she cares for serves as her boss, and her work hours are determined by their Medicaid managed care organization. Roughly 6% of direct care workers in Pennsylvania operate outside of an agency under this arrangement.
This model comes without guaranteed benefits like paid time off and health insurance that agency-employed workers typically receive. Brandon Kingsmore of Allentown, who has cerebral palsy and needs assistance with daily living activities, attended the press conference to advocate for better pay for his direct care worker.
Budget Implementation Timeline
The $21 million wage increase that took effect in January represents a significant investment in Pennsylvania’s home care workforce. Workers and advocates are now focused on ensuring continued funding and implementation of additional budgeted raises as deadlines approach for the current budget cycle.
The wage boost from $12.24 to $17.50 per hour represents a more than 40% increase for workers like Ott, who provide essential services that allow people with disabilities to maintain independence in their homes rather than requiring institutional care.
Home care workers across Pennsylvania provide critical support for individuals who cannot live independently due to various disabilities. Their work includes personal care tasks, meal preparation, and assistance with daily activities that enable clients to remain in their communities.
