You may find the following links rather helpful in making your choice whether direct payments is right for you.
The aim of the Department of Health (DH) is to improve the health and wellbeing of people in England. The website explains DH's work, structure and responsibilities, and gives direction and advice around Direct Payments.
The Penderels Trust is a registered charity and a limited company. It was originally set up in 1988 to assist people in Coventry with physical disabilities to lead more independent lives. They are currently used as the support service in North Lincolnshire for people using Direct Payments.
The Independent Living (1993) Fund is open to applications from severely disabled people who meet its eligibility criteria and are permanent residents of the United Kingdom. The Independent Living Funds were set up as a national resource dedicated to the financial support of disabled people to enable them to choose to live in the community rather than in residential care.
Provides training and support for Carers as well as raising funds for development work. Includes advice, discussion and support for carers.
Help the Aged is an international charity fighting to free disadvantaged older people from poverty, isolation and neglect. They research the needs of older people in the UK and overseas and campaign for changes in policy. We provide community services and publish information for the elderly on finance, how to stay healthy as well as guidance on choosing a care home.
Age Concern is the largest charity working with and for older people.
The website is designed to be a resource on independent living, direct payments and individual budgets for disabled people and others working in the field who may find it useful. NCIL is a national support, advice and consultancy organisation that aims to enable disabled people to be equal citizens with choice, control, rights and full economic, social and cultural lives.
Mind is the leading mental health charity in England and Wales. They work to create a better life for everyone with experience of mental distress.
Mencap is the UK's leading learning disability charity working with people with a learning disability and their families and carers.
In Control is a unique partnership between families, individuals, services, local authorities, Government and many other organisations. All these people are working together to define best practice in self-directed support and change the system.
The individual budget pilot programme is an important part of the government's agenda to give people who use public services more choice and control. The website explains what individual budgets are and tells you about the pilot programme. It will keep you up to date with what the local councils involved in the pilot are doing and learning.
The Office for Disability Issues is the focal point within government to coordinate disability policy across all departments and take forward the Life Chances Report to ensure robust implementation of its recommendations.
The Department for Work and Pensions promote opportunity and independence for all through modern, customer-focused services. They aim to help people to achieve their potential through employment, so that they are able to provide for their children and to work and save for secure retirement.
One of the largest social policy research and development charities in the UK, spending about £10 million a year on a research and development programme that seeks to better understand the causes of social difficulties and explore ways of overcoming them.