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Social services - direct payments

Following your Community Care Assessment, or reassessment, you can now choose whether to have services provided directly by Social Services, or have a direct payment.

A direct payment is a cash payment to allow you to buy your own support instead of Social Services providing it for you.

You can use the money to employ a personal assistant or you can use an agency to provide staff for you.

You can 'mix and match' and have some of your support provided by Social Services and take some as a direct payment.

You can't use the money to employ a close relative or person living in your home.

You must use the money to meet your assessed needs.

You will need to open a separate bank account to have the money paid into, and send in monthly bank statement from this account.

The Direct Payment Support Agency will give you all the help you need to operate direct payments.

Direct payments are not a social security benefit, will not affect any means tested benefit you are entitled to and are not taxable.

For further information use the contact details above.