Direct Payments back
In 1996 Local Authorities were given the power to provide disabled people with their own budgets to purchase the assistance and care needed to live independently. They are an alternative to the community care services that would otherwise be arranged and paid for by the Local Authority such as home care, residential care and day centres. The advantage for disabled people is the greater control, flexibility and choice they have over their day to day living arrangements.
Who can receive a Direct Payment
- Disabled people.
- Older and younger people.
- Carers.
- Parents of disabled children.
- People with sensory impairments.
- People with learning difficulties.
- People with mental health differences.
- People with HIV and AIDS.
‘Direct Payments have made an enormous difference to my life. Before Direct Payments I relied heavily on volunteers and my family. Direct Payments have given me back my self-respect, given me a life. It is good to know that my Personal Assistant (PA) is there to do what I want, when I want, how I want. Before Direct Payments I felt guilty about asking my family or volunteers to do anything for me, I felt I was a burden to them. Now they can go out and enjoy their own lives without feeling guilty.’ A member of the peer group |
What services can Direct Payments be used for?
Any community care services which a person has been assessed as requiring by the Local Authority including:- Personal Assistance.
- Short term breaks (respite) e.g. giving your carer a break by renting a holiday home or employing Personal Assistants to support you whilst you carer goes away on holiday.
- Daytime activities e.g. going to work, college or visiting friends.
What services can’t Direct Payments be used for?
- Local Authority run services such as home care and day care.
- Health related services such as nursing care.
- Housing services e.g. paying rent.
- Long term residential care.
You can have a mixture of Direct Payments and Local Authority services. For example, you can employ your own personal assistant and still continue to attend a day care centre if you wish.
Conditions for receiving a Direct Payment
- The lower age limit is 16 no upper age limit.
- You must have had a Community Care Assessment carried out by Local Authority Social Worker.
- You cannot employ a close relative that lives in the same household unless the Local Authority agrees.
- You must want to and be able to manage (with support) the Direct Payment.
- There are some other exclusions relating to detention under the mental health legislation.
- You must require only short periods of residential/nursing home care.
Services
The services that can be purchased can be for assistance with personal and domestic tasks inside and outside of the home, such as:
- Getting into and out of bed at a time to suit to you.
- Dressing.
- Having a bath, shaving washing hair etc.
- Preparing meals.
- Going shopping.
- Doing laundry, household cleaning and other chores.
- Assistance to get to social activities.
Other examples could be:
- Assistance to enable your informal carer to take a break.
- Enabling a deaf blind person to secure the services of a guide-communicator.
If you are interested in a Direct Payment an advisor from HCIL can meet with you to explain the process. Please go to the Contact Us page
