Direct payments
What are direct payments?
Independent living is about your right to make your own choices and to control your own life.
Direct payments are a way of ensuring that people who receive social care services have more independence, choice and control over the way in which these services are provided or arranged.
Under the Community Care (Direct Payments) Act 1996 and the Carers and Disabled Children Act 2000, local authorities are allowed to make cash payments to some people instead of arranging a service.
Direct payments are made so that individuals can arrange and purchase their own services.
However, they are not considered as income when you are assessed for welfare benefits.
From April 2002, under the Health and Social Care Act 2001 local authorities must offer direct payments to anyone who is eligible.
See also leaflets:
Who can have direct payments?
Recent changes in the law mean that more people are now able to get direct payments.
You may be able to get direct payments if you are 16 or over and have been assessed by adults' and community services as needing a service.
You must also have either:
- a physical disability
- a sensory disability
- a learning disability
- HIV or AIDS
- mental ill-health
Carers may also be able to get direct payments to pay for services we currently arrange if:
- you are the carer of a disabled child who has been assessed by our Adults' and Community Services as needing a service
- you are aged 16 or 17.
If you apply for direct payments you must be considered by our Adults' and Community Services to be willing and able to manage this yourself with or without assistance.
If you fit the above criteria but are not currently receiving services you can still apply for direct payments.
People who have not been assessed can also apply but will have to be assessed for services before their application for direct payments can be considered.
Benefits of direct payments
Direct payments can give you wider choice, control and flexibility to meet your individual social care needs.
Payments are made directly to you to buy and arrange your own social care services as stated in your care plan.
What can I use direct payments for?
Our Adults' and Community Services can give you direct payments to use for all the services we arrange or provide.
In some cases you may choose only to have direct payments for some of these services.
These include:
- personal care such as help with dressing, washing, getting up, or eating meals
- practical care such as shopping, collecting benefits or pensions, help preparing meals, housework
- transport
- an opportunity for Carers to have a break from their caring responsibilities
- day time activities, getting out and about: going to work, visiting a friend or relative, going to leisure activities
- if you are a disabled parent, help to look after your child
- if you are a carer, help to look after the person you care for or to give you a break from caring.
What responsibilities will I have?
If you decide to use direct payments you will be responsible for arranging your own services which could include:
- recruiting and employing staff - you will be offered professional advice and support to help you fulfil your obligations
- organizing and managing day to day tasks for staff
- opening a separate bank or building society account
- keeping records of payments and submitting returns to the council.
Charges
You will be financially assessed in the normal way to establish how much, if anything, you will need to pay.
Charges for services via direct payments, are made on exactly the same basis as those directly arranged by Social Services.
Family Carers and friends
People may use their friends, families or Carers to help them manage the payments, provided the person receiving the direct payment remains in control of the money.
Is there help available?
Yes – DASL (Disability Advice Service Lambeth) has direct payments workers who can help you with any initial questions you may have.
If you decide to go ahead DASL can arrange training and other practical help to enable you to manage your direct payments independently.
Disability Advice Services Lambeth
336 Brixton Road.,
Lambeth
SW9 7AA
Email: direct.payments@disabilitylambeth.org.uk
Website: www.disabilitylambeth.org.uk
Direct Payments User Group
The Direct Payments User Group is a useful resource for advice and information for all current and prospective users of the direct payments scheme. Group members can provide mutual support and advice from a user's point of view.
Email: via the website www.disabilitylambeth.org.uk or to user.involvement@disabilitylambeth.org.uk
If you have not already had a needs assessment from our Adults' and Community Services, DASL can assist you to arrange one.