In employent but wages cheques keep bouncing.

CANARY_JOES

My daughter is currently employed to care for a disabled lady who lives at home. The lady is entitled to so many hours of care per week. My daughter has to ring the council with the number of hours worked and they tell her employer the amount in wages due. The employer then writes a cheque out for my Daughter.
Unfortunately the cheques keep bouncing and my daughter has not received any wages for over 4 weeks.
She has contacted the social worker who has told her to continue caring for her employer and hopefully the money will be sorted out. My daughter has had to move back home. She has no money to pay her landlord his rent or other bills. The whole situation is making her ill. Please has anyone got any advice.
Thank you

Emmzi

who is the employer? the council, the old lady, or a care agency?

CANARY_JOES

The employer is the lady. The council give the lady a grant to pay the carers. They have to ring their hours in to the council each week and the council advices the lady the amount to write on the employees cheque. Thanks

bengalknights

Is the cheque bouncing for insufficient funds or because of something silly like no signature etc

If its for insufficients funds then you should chase the council if they can pay you direct from the grant.

soupdragon10

This is a ridiculous situation. I would suggest that your daughter put in writing to the manager of the social services office (with a copy to the social worker) exactly what is happening.

Something like I have done x hours caring for mrs A over the past 4 weeks and have informed a (social worker) each week of the hours completed. To date I have been paid by cheque which have not been honoured by the bank leaving me with no payment for the hours completed.

Unless I am paid in full by....(date) I will have no alternative but to cease working for Mrs A and seek other employment, whilst seeking my wages via the small claims court (not sure if you can use it for this so best check).

Some possibilities if there are insufficient funds

1. Social Services are not putting the money in in time for the payment, but this wouldn't explain why this has happened for 4 weeks, or
2. The money is being put in but used for something else
3. Social Services are paying the money into the wrong account.

Really isn't fair to expect her to work for 4 weeks without any payment. I suspect the payments are via the Direct Payment system?

Emmzi

the social worker has a problem if the carer doesnt turn up so of course they are going to say keep coming!

yes, small claims. I agree with soupdragon's letter.

crabyducky

This sounds like direct payments. If so i believe it is the lady not social services you have to send letters to, due to her employin you and not social services. If they are direct payments and are not being used for the things they are supposed to be then it is an offence and the individual may be at risk of action being taken against her.