What does it do?What are Direct Payments?
Direct Payments are cash payments made to an individual to allow them to arrange and purchase the care and support they
have been assessed as needing by a local authority's Adult or Children's Services (formerly known as Social Services).
They provide people with the opportunity to take more control over the decisions that affect their lives, and the flexibility to receive services which really suit their individual needs and lifestyle, often allowing people to live much more independently.
Who can receive Direct Payments?
Direct Payments can be offered to:
- People with physical, sensory or learning disabilities.
- Older people
- People with mental health needs
- People with HIV/AIDS
- Carers aged 16 years and over
- Parents of disabled children
- Young disabled people aged 16 and 17 years
You can receive Direct Payments as long as:
- You have been assessed as needing services
- You are willing to receive Direct Payments
- You can consent to receiving Direct Payments and can manage them with or without assistance
- If for a disabled child, the child is living at home.
What can I use Direct Payments for?
You can use Direct Payments to purchase support to meet your assessed social care needs including:
- Home support
- Day Services
- Short Breaks
- Equipment
- Leisure Link and leisure activities (for disabled children) or a combination of these services.
People use Direct Payments in many different ways depending on their own circumstances and personal preferences. Two of the most common ways of using Direct Payments are contracting directly with a care agency or directly employing someone (a Personal Assistant) to provide the support and care required.
What can I not use Direct Payments for?
You cannot use Direct Payments to purchase any of the following:
- Services from a Local Authority
- Health Care Services
- Housing
- Permanent residential or nursing care
What if I already receive services from Adult or Children's Services?
You can still receive Direct Payments if you are already receiving services from Adult or Children's Services by transferring some or all of your care and support to Direct Payments.You can receive a mixture of both Direct Payments and services arranged directly by Adult or Children's Services.
Will Direct Payments affect my Social Security benefits?
No. Direct Payments will not be taken into account when calculating your entitlement to means-tested Social Security benefits.
Will I have to pay anything towards Direct Payments?
If the Direct Payment relates to an adult, Adult Services will assess the contribution you are required to pay towards the cost of the services you receive. This contribution would be the same whether you choose to receive Direct Payments or services arranged directly by Adult Services.
If the Direct Payment relates to a child you will not at present be asked to contribute towards the cost of the care package.
Young people aged 16 and 17 years will be expected to make a small, fixed financial contribution towards the cost of overnight short breaks.
How much money will I receive?
The amount of money you receive will depend on the services you have been assessed as needing. The Direct Payments rates are reviewed annually. If you wish you may use your own money to top up Direct Payments in order to purchase more expensive services.