Factsheet: Direct Payments
All Local Authorities must now offer Direct Payments to eligible people.
Eligible people are those who are assessed as needing community care services (which include housing support services) or children's services.
You must be a disabled person aged 16 or over, a parent of a disabled child, a person over 65 (who needs community care services due to infirmity or age) or an attorney or guardian. (There are certain exceptions)
You have to be assessed as being willing and able to consent to and manage a Direct Payment with support, if needed.
Direct payments can be used to:
- Employ Personal Assistant(s)
- Buy agency services, services from private providers, or services from a voluntary organisation
- Buy Local Authority services
- Purchase equipment and temporary adaptations
- Purchase short breaks
Direct payments allows individuals to live more independently, by giving them money to arrange their own support rather than the Local Authority arranging and providing it for them.
Direct Payment recipients should not be at an advantage, or a disadvantage to those in receipt of local authority services.
The Direct Payment is paid into a bank account which is for the use of the recipient; the account should only be used for the Direct Payment and possibly Independent Living Fund payments, if you are eligible for them.
Direct Payment recipients may need to make a financial contribution towards their support in the same way as if they were receiving equivalent local authority services.
