Direct payments
A direct payment is when the council gives you your personal budget to arrange and pay for your own care and support.
A direct payment gives you lots of choice and control so you can put in place support that is right for you. This may include hiring a personal assistant (PA) so you can choose who supports you.
There are some conditions that you need to meet to have a direct payment. Your worker will let you know about these.
What you can use you direct payment for
Whatever was agreed in your care and support plan.
For instance, having assistance to get washed and dressed, make meals, do your shopping, housework, or laundry.
It could also include someone to support you to do the things that matter to you - seeing your friends, attending college, going to the park, theatre or pub. All of this will be agreed with you in advance and written in your care and support plan.
If you decide to have a direct payment to employ a personal assistant (PA), there are some tasks in relation to employing a person that you or your nominated or authorised person will need to take responsibility for. The Direct Payment Support Service can provide advice and help with employment.
The difference between a nominated person and an authorised person
A nominated person is someone you choose to help you manage your direct payment.
This could be a friend or family member. If you nominate someone to manage the direct payment on your behalf, you still maintain the legal responsibilities that go with it.
An authorised person is someone who manages the direct payment on your behalf because you are not mentally able to do so. This might be because you have a mental health illness.
What you cannot use your direct payment for
Your direct payment is designed to give you maximum flexibility in how you choose and manage your care and support. However, there are some things that the money cannot be used for.
These include, but are not limited to -
- anything that is against the law
- ongoing residential or nursing care - although your direct payment can be used for short-term breaks
- gambling
- repaying debts including mortgages, fuel arrears, loans
- financial investments
- household bills such as rent, gas, electricity, water
- day-to-day food bills, cigarettes, and alcohol
- buying personal care from an unregistered care agency
- payments to close relatives living in the same household - unless there are exceptional circumstances that must be agreed by the council
- health care needs, which would otherwise be paid for by the NHS
