Hourly Rate Changes

[sassysteph7]

Perhaps some of you seasoned travellers can help me understand something. Recently I've spoken to a travel company and in the discussion I asked about housing benefits and how much I'd receive if I DIDN'T want them to find me housing. She said something and then said it would change my hourly pay rate. Actually it would went down - she started at $40 an hour and then it dropped to $35 an hour. She said something about because then I'd get more money that wouldn't be taxed. I was very confused as I never thought the hourly pay rate adjusts depending upon the housing benefit. Does this sound right?

[ERRNTraveler, RN]

Well, if you don't take company housing, you'll either get a housing stipend, or you'll make more per hour. Same as if you choose not to take their insurance- any money that they're not spending on your benefits should increase your hourly rate.....

[kdblueey]

The company that I am currently with was charging me for housing ($354 per week) + I had to pay back the monies they gave me to get from Ohio to Texas + $36 per week for medical insurance. At that time, my hourly rate was $39 (part of that was tax free). When I told them that I was going to go with another company for my next assignments, this is what they did. They stopped ALL deductions, but my hourly rate went down to $28.50. Since I no longer have a permanent residence in Ohio, part of the $28.50 is tax free (they said for meals/gas or something). So I think EVERYTHING YOU want as a traveler, in your 'package' will affect your hourly rate. (I'm STILL going with another company. If they would of given me back all of the money they took from me, I 'might' of stayed with them). Hope this helps.

Kathy (now in the panhandle - but only for three more weeks )

[KatieBell]

If you no longer have a permanent residence, then nothing will be tax free, and your hourly will go down due to it all being taxed. You may have a permresidence elsewhere though, so i might have misinterpreted that. but without a permanent Tax home (residence that you have ties to, pay money to maintain, and go to regularly) you are considered an itinerant worker by the IRS and are not eligible for tax free reimbursements for meals/housing etc....