What is a direct payment review?
We regularly review your care and support to make sure it meets your needs. If you receive a direct payment, we also check that the money is being used as agreed in your support plan.
By law, we must review your direct payment at least once every 12 months.
We will carry out a review:
- within the first three months or receiving a direct payment
- after this, at regular intervals of at least once a year or more often if any issues occur
Your social worker or care manager will let you know when and how your review will take place. The review plan will be clearly explained in your support plan and shared with everyone involved in managing your direct payment.
You can ask a financial representative, advocate or support person to attend the review with you.
What do you need to provide?
You’ll need to show:
- bank statements and cheque books for the year
- invoices, timesheets or receipts for any services or support you’ve paid for
Your social worker or care manager will support you throughout the review process.
Support from Penderels Trust
If you prefer, you can ask your social worker or care manager about using Penderels Trust. They are commissioned by us to help people manage their direct payments.
What happens if money is unspent?
If you haven’t used all of your direct payment, we’ll review your support plan to make sure you’re getting the most out of your budget.
Misuse of direct payments
If your direct payment is not being used as agreed in your support plan, we may stop your direct payment and recover any unused or misused funds.