What are direct payments?
The council's Social Services can offer some people cash instead of arranging community care services, such as home care or day care for them. When a council gives someone money in this way, it is known as a direct payment.
People who get this money must use it to arrange services to meet their community care needs themselves. It is not extra income to be spent as they choose.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of direct payments?
Direct payments let people choose the services they want to help meet their needs. It is possible to combine direct payments with other services and funds to suit individual needs.
Direct payments carry with them responsibilities. Users of the payments must manage their care and the funds, with help if necessary. If a direct payment user employs their own staff to act as ‘personal assistants’, they will have the task of recruiting suitable staff. They also need to ensure they fulfil the legal requirements of responsible employers. Some people are able to successfully manage these tasks, but others may find them too difficult even with help.
Who can be given direct payments?
To receive a payment people must be:
- a disabled person of 16 years or older
- the carer of a disabled adult or child of any age
- the disabled parent of children of any age
- assessed as needing services
- able and willing to manage the payment, either alone or with help
There are some people who cannot receive direct payments. This is due to certain criminal justice and mental health legislation.
In North Lincolnshire, direct payments are not available to people who require only small amounts of care or services for a short time e.g. for the recovery period following minor surgery.
Finally, everyone who wants to arrange their own care using direct payments must sign an agreement to follow North Lincolnshire Council’s regulations about their use.
How much are direct payments, how are they made and on what can they be spent?
The amount of money paid is linked to the amount of care North Lincolnshire Council would provide for them each week and hourly payment rates that are set by the council.
Payments are made every four weeks directly into a bank account that must be set up especially for the payments. The money must be used to buy the care that the council has agreed to fund, following a community care assessment of their needs.
Direct payments can be used to employ staff to meet the user’s care needs or buy care from sources such as private care agencies. They can’t be used to buy services from the council.
Direct payments cannot be used to buy goods or services other than those for which they are provided. This includes ordinary daily living expenses such as food. Regular checks are carried out to ensure the payments are managed properly. The council can stop payments if they are mismanaged or misused.
What help can I get to manage direct payments?
Direct payment users can get help in arranging and managing their care from appropriate relatives or friends. Within North Lincolnshire there is also an organisation called Penderels Trust (01724 298331 or 860777). that provides independent advice and support to direct payments users. Penderels Trust can talk to people considering having their services arranged through direct payments. It can also help with practical tasks such as staff recruitment and payroll services.
Will they affect my benefit entitlement or the tax I have to pay?
Direct payments do not affect the benefit entitlement or tax position of people who receive them. This is because direct payments do not form any part of their ordinary income. The payments are separate funds provided to buy the care services needed, following an assessment by the council.
Will I have to pay anything towards my care?
All adults receiving community care services are assessed to contribute towards the cost of their care. The amount payable depends on income and the type of service received. If you are assessed as having to contribute, the amount of your contribution is deducted before the payment is made.
Who can I employ using direct payments?
Users of direct payments decide for themselves who they employ to assist them with their care, providing they are eligible to work. However, direct payments cannot be used to pay partners or close relatives that live with you. As a general rule, you cannot employ close relatives who live elsewhere or other people living in the same household. Direct payments can go towards the cost of recruiting a live-in carer.
How can I get more Information?
By contacting Social Services or Penderels Trust.
More information is available in North Lincolnshire Council’s ‘users guide to direct payments’ which is available from Adult Social Care teams. Further detailed information is available in ‘everything you need to know about getting and using direct payments’. This publication is available free to people with disabilities from the National Centre for Independent Living 250, Kennington Lane. London. SE11 5RD. Tel: 020 7587 1663. Fax: 020 7582 2469. Minicom: 020 7587 1177. Other useful sources of information are listed in that publication.
For further information you can contact:
Older People’s Service (65 and older)
Tel: 01724 297979
Fax: 01724 298056
Textphone: 01724 298018
Physical Disability Service (18 to 64)
Tel: 01724 298000
Fax: 01724 298034
Textphone: 01724 298035
Learning Disability Service
Tel: 01724 298222
Fax: 01724 298209
Textphone: 01724 298210
All of the above are based at the Brumby Resource Centre, East Common Lane, Scunthorpe DN16 1QQ.
Community Mental Health Service
344 Ashby Road
Scunthorpe
DN16 2RS
Tel: 01724 275959
Fax: 01724 275968
Penderels Trust
Horkstow House
Brumby Resource Centre
East Common Lane
Scunthorpe
DN16 1QQ
Tel: 01724 298331/ 01724 860777
Fax: 01724 298224