Direct payments are payments for people who have been assessed as needing help from social services, and who would like to arrange and pay for their own care and support services.

Who is eligible?

If you already receive social services

You will be offered the option of direct payments in place of the services you currently receive from social services.  There are some limited circumstances where you are not given the choice and social services will be able to tell you about these.

If you are not already receiving social services

To get direct payments you will need to contact the customer advice centre to arrange for an assessment of your needs.

If you already receive social care services, but wish to change to a direct payment

Please contact your Care Manager or Review Officer.

Direct payments are normally available if you are:

• Older people who have been assessed as needing social care services
• Disabled people aged 16 or over, including those with short as well as long term needs
• People with parental responsibility for a disabled child

or

• Have mental health needs
• Have learning disabilities
• Have physical or sensory impairments
• Have HIV/AIDS

If you've been refused social services

If social services have decided that you do not need social care services, you will not be offered direct payments.  If your needs or circumstances have now changed contact the customer advice centre to arrange a new assessment. 

How it's paid

Direct payments are made directly into your bank, building society, Post Office or National Savings account.  If you need someone who cares for you to collect your money, or you are registered blind, payment can be made by sending a cheque which can be cashed at the Post Office.

What you can use direct payments for

The money is for you to use to pay for the services and/or equipment that will meet the needs you have been assessed as having.

What you can't use direct payments for

You cannot use direct payments to:

• Pay for permanent residential accommodation - but you may be able to use direct payments to secure occasional short periods in residential accommodation, if we agree that is what is needed.
• Secure a service from your spouse or civil partner, close relatives or anyone who lives in the same household as you, unless that person is someone who you have specifically recruited to be a live in employee (other than in exceptional circumstances, which social services may agree with you).