Direct Payments
An alternative approach to services being directly provided by the Council.
What are Direct Payments?
Direct payments are cash payments made to you and / or the person you care for, to enable you to purchase the assistance or services we would otherwise provide. The vast majority of people getting social services from the council have a right to direct payments. Direct payments are an important way of ensuring more people can continue to live independently in their own homes. Giving you money instead of services will give you greater control over your life, because you make the decisions about how your care is provided.
How do direct payments work?
The vast majority of people who are assessed as needing services have a right to direct payments. Equally, you should not be pressured to have direct payments if you prefer for services to be arranged by the council. Your council will tell you more about the arrangements and the limited circumstances in which direct payments are not appropriate.
The money paid to you must be used to purchase the services identified as needed following an assessment.
You decide who provides the help and the equipment you need. You might also choose to have some services from us and some that you pay for out of your Direct Payment. You will have to keep records of how you spend the money. We will give you help and support so that you can do this.
Will this affect my other benefits or will I need to pay more tax?
People get this money to arrange services for themselves to meet their social care needs. Direct payments will not be taken into account for the purpose of assessing income for social security benefits, and are not liable to income tax
Why would I want direct payments?
Direct payments allow people to take more of the decisions which affect their lives. They give you more flexibility and choice, by enabling people of all ages to purchase care for themselves that better suits their individual needs.
If you receive direct payments, you can decide how your needs will be met, by whom and at what time. You are in control. You may make arrangements directly, so that any staff you employ report directly to you. If you have a contract with an agency, the agency will be accountable to you, not the local council.
For example, some older people may not always find social services flexible enough to respond to their needs, or some may feel that services lack in continuity. You may find that the home help or carer arranged by the council cannot come at the time you want. With direct payments, you can arrange for someone to come whenever it suits you.
Who can receive direct payments?
The vast majority of people getting social services from the council have a right to direct payments. More specifically, they are:
- older people who have been assessed as needing community care services
- disabled people aged 16 and over, including those with short as well as long term needs
- carers, in place of receiving carers’ services
- families with disabled children for children’s services
- disabled parents for children’s services
There are only very limited circumstances when direct payments would not be offered.
Can I change how I spend my direct payments?
You will need to discuss with the local council the amount of flexibility you have in how you spend your direct payments. You need to know what changes to the way you spend the money you have to agree with the council in advance, and what changes you can make without asking.
Will the local council check on the services being provided?
By agreeing to accept direct payments you are taking on responsibility for purchasing services to meet your assessed needs. The council will have to satisfy itself that the needs for which it is giving you direct payments are being met. The council should tell you how they will go about this. This may involve someone visiting you in your home.
If you do not spend the money on the services for which it has been provided, or if you have spent it in a way which does not meet any conditions the local council has set, then the council could require you to repay some or all of the money.
Who can I contact for further advice?
To find out more information, please contact the Sandwell Direct Payments Support Service on Tel: 0121 558 5555.