Seniority Rate

What is the seniority rate?

For eligible PCAs, the seniority rate is an increased wage that is added to your base hourly wage. The seniority rate is based on the number of hours you worked as a PCA since 2008.

There are five different seniority rate pay steps. To be eligible for these rate pay steps, you must either:

have taken the New Hire Orientation (NHO) or
be exempt from NHO because you have worked as a PCA since 2013.

The seniority rate steps and wages are listed below:

Seniority Rate Step	Hours worked as a PCA since 2008	*Seniority Hourly Rate (This is the amount a PCA will receive, in addition* to their base wage)**	PCA Hourly Wage (After completing NHO or if exempt from NHO)
Step 1	0 – 3,640 hours	$0.00 per hour	$19.50
Step 2	3,641 – 7,280 hours	+$0.60 per hour	$20.10
Step 3	7,281 – 12,740 hours	+$1.20 per hour	$20.70
Step 4	12,741 – 18,200 hours	+$1.80 per hour	$21.30
Step 5	18,201+ hours	+$2.40 per hour	$21.90

When does the seniority rate begin?

The seniority rate will be paid to eligible PCAs for dates of service beginning on April 1, 2025, only if the PCA has completed NHO, or is exempt from NHO because they have worked as a PCA since at least 2013.

Am I eligible to receive the seniority rate?

Starting April 1, 2025, completion of New Hire Orientation (NHO) is a condition for eligibility for rate increases and applicability of seniority-based rate steps, unless you are exempt from NHO.

Effective April 1, 2025, if you have completed NHO or are exempt from NHO, you will receive payment based on your applicable seniority rate step, which is based on the number of hours you have worked.

How did MassHealth calculate hours worked?

MassHealth used two data sources to calculate each PCA’s lifetime hours worked since 2008.

Source 1: W-2s (2008 – 2014)

The W-2s include wages that represent Federal Taxable wages.
To determine the hours for the year, MassHealth divided the total W-2 wages by the average wage rate for that calendar year.

Year	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014
Average Wage Rate	$11.22	$11.80	$12.24	$12.48	$12.58	$12.83	$13.18

Source 2: Fiscal Intermediary (FI) Check History (2015 – Present)

Includes all Day/Evening, Regular and Night hours a PCA has been paid for.

What should I do if I disagree with MassHealth’s calculation of my total hours worked?

MassHealth and Tempus FI have conducted a thorough review of available data and made every effort to ensure the accuracy of each PCA’s total hours worked. If your records demonstrate that you worked an amount of hours that differs from MassHealth’s summary in this letter, you may request a review of the total hours worked by:

Complete the Hours Review form HERE
Call 877-479-7577 to request the form
Email [email protected] to request the form be sent to you

To ensure sufficient time for processing prior to the seniority rate effective start date, we encourage reviews be requested by January 31, 2025.

Additional reviews can be requested until September 30, 2025.

Is there anything I should do right now to make sure I am eligible for the seniority rate?

If you have completed NHO, or are exempt from NHO, there is nothing you need to do ahead of the Seniority rate taking effect. The rate will be automatically applied to your base wage beginning April 1, 2025.

If you are required to, but have not yet completed NHO, you must do so by April 1, 2025, otherwise you will be not eligible to receive the Seniority rate on this date.

To sign up for NHO, you can:

Call the Homecare Training Benefit at (877) 409-8283 or visit http://bit.ly/pcanho to learn more about NHO classes, locations, dates and times.
Alternatively, you can discuss NHO with your Consumer-Employer and take the Consumer-taught NHO option.

How can I see my total hours worked balance in the future?

By April 1, 2025, you will see your total hours worked on your paycheck stub. You can read your paycheck stub to see your current total hours worked.

Seniority FAQs

Does a PCA need to apply for the seniority rate?

What does a PCA need to do to be eligible for the seniority rate?

How will a PCA know how many hours they have worked and what their seniority rate is?

How long will it take a PCA to hear back about their hours worked review?

If a PCA moves up a seniority step during a pay period, when will they start receiving their new rate? Will they be notified of their new rate?

Does the seniority rate apply to Travel or Overtime?

How will a PCA be able to see how many hours they have worked?

Where can a PCA see if they have taken NHO?

If a PCA is NHO exempt, meaning they started with the PCA program prior to 2014, do they still need to take NHO to be eligible for the seniority rate?

If a PCA is not NHO exempt and needs to take NHO, what are the steps to do so?

If a PCA is not exempt from NHO and takes NHO AFTER April 1, 2025, when should a PCA expect to see the seniority rate applied to their base wage?

Does a PCA need to apply for the seniority rate?

No, a PCA does not need to apply for the seniority rate. The rate will be automatically calculated based on Tempus’s records of a PCA’s hours worked since 2008.
If a PCA is eligible to receive the seniority rate and has completed New Hire Orientation or is exempt from NHO, the PCA will begin earning the seniority rate on April 1, 2025.

What does a PCA need to do to be eligible for the seniority rate?

To be eligible for the seniority rate a PCA must complete NHO. If a PCA does not complete NHO, the PCA will not be able to earn the seniority rate.

How will a PCA know how many hours they have worked and what their seniority rate is?

All active PCAs will receive one of two versions of a letter from MassHealth in December 2024 with additional information about the seniority rate. The letter will include the total number of hours a PCA has worked as a MassHealth PCA since 2008 and whether they completed New Hire Orientation.
- A PCA will receive this letter if they have not completed NHO: English & Spanish
- A PCA will receive this letter if they have completed NHO or are exempt from NHO: English & Spanish

How long will it take a PCA to hear back about their hours worked review?

PCAs should expect to hear back within 30 days.

If a PCA moves up a seniority step during a pay period, when will they start receiving their new rate? Will they be notified of their new rate?

If a PCA moves up seniority steps, their new rate will be applied in their next paycheck. This will begin after April 1, 2025.
A PCA will not be notified of this change by Tempus FI. They will be able to see the new rate reflected in their check stub.

Does the seniority rate apply to Travel or Overtime?

Yes, PCAs will be paid their seniority rate for travel and overtime (OT).

How will a PCA be able to see how many hours they have worked?

This information will be located on the most current check stub from Tempus FI.
Hours worked will appear on check stubs by April 1, 2025.

Where can a PCA see if they have taken NHO?

This information will be located on a PCA’s payroll history. This information will also be shared with the PCA in the December notification letter. NHO status will also appear on check stubs by April 1, 2025.

If a PCA is NHO exempt, meaning they started with the PCA program prior to 2014, do they still need to take NHO to be eligible for the seniority rate?

No, if a PCA is NHO exempt, they do not need to take NHO to be eligible for the seniority rate.

If a PCA is not NHO exempt and needs to take NHO, what are the steps to do so?

If a PCA is not NHO exempt and needs to take NHO, you must do so by April 1, 2025, otherwise you will be not eligible to receive the Seniority Differential rate on this date.
To sign up for NHO, you can:
- Call the Homecare Training Benefit at (877) 409-8283, ext. 7 or visit http://bit.ly/pcanho to learn more about NHO classes, locations, dates and times.
- Alternatively, you can discuss NHO with your Consumer-Employer and take the Consumer-taught NHO option.

If a PCA is not exempt from NHO and takes NHO AFTER April 1, 2025, when should a PCA expect to see the seniority rate applied to their base wage?

The seniority rate can only be applied from the date Tempus confirms completion of NHO. Once confirmed, the seniority rate will be applied to the PCA’s next paycheck..

What if I have questions?

If you have questions, please reach out to your Consumer-Employer.

If you are a Consumer or surrogate, please refer to the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) letter sent to you over the summer or contact your Personal Care Management (PCM) agency with questions.

If you have general questions about the Seniority rate or about your NHO status, please call 877-479-7577 or email [email protected].

For specific questions about your total hours worked balance, please complete the Review of Total Hours worked form.