Did your agent increase the minimum stipend?

[Anonymous]

I just got an email from APC:

AuPairCare adheres to the U.S. Department of State regulations and will continue to do so. With inflation and cost of living increases, we will introduce a new AuPairCare minimum weekly stipend of $215 per week which is higher than the U.S. Department of State minimum of $195.75. Host families and au pairs can agree to a stipend even higher than $215 per week minimum.

wondering if other agents did the same.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just got an email from APC:

AuPairCare adheres to the U.S. Department of State regulations and will continue to do so. With inflation and cost of living increases, we will introduce a new AuPairCare minimum weekly stipend of $215 per week which is higher than the U.S. Department of State minimum of $195.75. Host families and au pairs can agree to a stipend even higher than $215 per week minimum.

wondering if other agents did the same.

This change will affect AuPairCare participants with a new match or extension that is finalized on or after January 3, 2023.

[Anonymous]

We’ve always offered $250 which we are very up front about on our HF profile. Removes a lot of the hassle and competition in the application process. Maybe APA is just trying to make things better for HF and attracting stronger candidates.

[Anonymous]

Rumor (LCC) has it that CCAP will announce soon.

[Anonymous]

Aren't people increasing voluntarily at this point? We've been a HF for 8 years and to us it is insane that the stipend has never increased, especially now with inflation. Our job is pretty easy and we pay $250 anyway because we can't imagine how AP can do much just on the stipend. We are also very liberal with extras like car, food, cash gifts for travel so she can enjoy the experience as much as possible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Aren't people increasing voluntarily at this point? We've been a HF for 8 years and to us it is insane that the stipend has never increased, especially now with inflation. Our job is pretty easy and we pay $250 anyway because we can't imagine how AP can do much just on the stipend. We are also very liberal with extras like car, food, cash gifts for travel so she can enjoy the experience as much as possible.

I know many families still don't. I am very generous with gifts and extra cash etc but they are all performance based. If she does a good job, she can enjoy a lot of "free" experiences with us or we pay for it if she does the activities on her own. but if she is careless about her job or our family, or just so so, she will have to figure it out herself.

[Anonymous]

We also have kept the 195.75 minimum. We have never had a problem attracting great au pairs, most of whom have stayed with us for two years. We give a big bonus at the end of the year for a job well done plus will pay for more education if the au pair wants to take more classes. For a second year au pair, we pay for a plane ticket home before the end of the first year and give an extra week of vacation for the trip home. We get a discount with the agency for an au pair that stays two years and we are just passing that discount along to the au pair.

I like this system because extra money is given for a job well done not just for doing the minimum required.