Direct Payments

People who use services receive money from the local authority. With direct payments they are able to choose how they spend the money themselves.

Direct Payments are made to people who are able to manage the payment. People can have with support to manage the money.

The Local Authority decides who much each payment should be. The payment should be enough to pay for the services a person needs.

Who can get Direct Payments?

To get Direct Payments a person must:

• have a disability
• be assessed as needing community care services
• want to get direct payments
• be able to manage the payments
• be over 18 years old
• not subject to certain mental health measures

What can Direct Payments be used for?

Direct Payments can be used to pay for services that meet community care needs. You must have an assessment to decide what your needs are.

Direct Payments cannot be used to pay for:

• health services
• housing services
• children
• residential care (except for short periods of respite care)
• to pay close relatives