A direct payment is money which Adult Services and Public Health pays into a person’s bank account for them to spend on a specific item or activity identified in their support plan.
Note: A direct payment is not the same as a direct debit.
Why would I want a direct payment?
You can use a direct payment to arrange and pay for your own care and support. It gives you the flexibility to get the services that meet your needs, when and how you want them, from the provider you choose.
Direct payments do not affect any benefits you receive such as Disability Living Allowance (DLA), Personal Independence Payments (PIP), or Attendance Allowance.
Who can have a direct payment?
Anyone assessed by a social worker or social care officer as meeting the Adult Social Care eligibility criteria can get a direct payment. This includes:
- older people aged 65 or over
- people with disabilities aged over 16
- unpaid carers aged 16 and over, including those with parental responsibility for a child with a disability
How will I manage my direct payment?
Once your social worker/social care officer is satisfied that a Direct Payment can meet your agreed support arrangements you can have as much or as little support as you choose in managing your payment. The type of help you can get includes:
- information and advice to help you decide on and arrange support to suit your needs
- interviewing and employing carers and personal assistants
- payroll service to help manage a personal assistant's wages, tax and national insurance or support you to do this yourself
- information to help you choose a care agency, if you choose to use one
You may choose someone to manage your direct payment account on your behalf. This could be a family member, a friend or our direct payment support service. Your social worker/ social care officer will be able to tell you more about this support service or options available to you (this does not include making decisions about employment or commissioning issues).
However, if a person lacks the capacity to manage a direct payment such as managing employment issues or arranging support, a trusted "Authorised Person" can do this on behalf of the person eligible for the direct payment.
If you choose someone to hold your direct payment for you they will be responsible for making the payments to the employee or agency you have chosen.
Further information
Visit Skills for Care for more resources on direct payments.