Direct Payments
The Independent Living Project Direct Payments Support Scheme
What is a Direct Payment?
An Introduction to Direct Payments
A direct payment is money that Social Services give you, to assist you to buy the care services that you have been assessed as needing.
· It is intended to support independent living and give you the control to arrange and decide how your assessed care and support will be provided.
· It is an alternative to other Social Service provisions such as day care, home care and respite care, which are all controlled by your care manager or social worker.
· It is not a benefit, such as Disability Living Allowance or Attendance Allowance.
· It is needs tested, rather than means tested.
· You have direct accountability from service providers.
· You have more flexibility.
· You do not need to live in your own home. You may be living with parents, or supported living and still qualify for a direct payment.
Who can have a Direct Payment?
· You must be assessed by Social Services as needing community care services, in which case the direct payment is given as an alternative.
· You must be able and willing to accept and manage a direct payment, either on your own or with assistance.
· Some people may need ongoing support to manage their direct payment, others will need support from time to time.
· Aged 16 years and over
· A person with a parental responsibility for a disabled child.
· A carer aged 16 and over, who has been assessed as needing carer services.
If you receive a community care service and you would like to have a direct payment, ask your social worker for a review and state you want a direct payment.
If you are not using services you will have to request a community care assessment.
You will need to discuss
· How you intend to use your direct payment to arrange services to meet your needs.
· The value of the direct payment you will receive.
· How much you will be expected to contribute.
· What help you need, if any, to manage your direct payment
· What flexibility will there be to changes in needs
· Back-up arrangements in case of emergencies
What can I use a Direct Payment for?
· You can employ your own personal assistant or carer instead of using services provided.
· Have support to enable you to attend college or to go to work (see also Employment Service -Access to Work)
· Secure short periods in residential acommodation (respite care)
· Pay for a care agency to provide support. You should still be able to choose the staff who support you, but they will not be employed by you.
Please note that in some cases the rate of direct payment you receive from the Local Authority may be less than the cost of contracting with an agency.
· You can have a direct payment for all of your support or part of it. If you want a combination of direct payments and services, Social Services will arrange the remainder.
What can’t I use a Direct Payment for?
· Clothes, food and savings.
· Permanent residential accommodation.
· To purchase support from a spouse,partner,or close relatives, unless there are exceptional reasons for doing so.
· To buy support services from your Local Authority.
· A direct payment is notavailable for services provided by the NHS
What If I wish to be an employer?
Whilst a direct payment gives you independence, choice, control and flexibility, you must accept certain responsibilities.
When you employ your own staff you have personal and legal responsibilities, which you must be aware of and comply with:-
· Job description
· Recruiting and interviewing staff
· Offer a written Contract of Employment
· Inform the Inland Revenue and deduct PAYE Tax and NI as required
· Ensure you have adequate Employers and Public Liability Insurance
· Ensure your employee is able to work safely in your home
· Training requirements as required
How the Direct Payment Support Service can help you
You will be supported throughout by the Direct Payment Support Service, which can help you:-
· Explore the possibility of a direct payment, assist you with information and advice to enable you to decide whether a direct payment is for you.
· Identify and assemble the package of care and support best suited to your needs.
· Provide you with support to complete and maintain records and calculate tax and National Insurance
· Provide you with the support to recruit, interview and employ carers and personal assistants
· If you wish to contract with a care agency the support service will assist you in choosing an agency.However, you may not get as much value from your money.
How will I manage my Direct Payment?
By managing a direct payment you will have some paperwork and some responsibility. You will be ‘accountable’ for the money, but will have assistance.
You will be required to:-
· Open a separate bank account specifically to use for your direct payment and payments for the services you have been assessed as needing.
· Pay for those services with the money you receive every month in advance.
· Keep simple records on how you spend the money and who you pay, which must be made available to Social Services when requested, to enable them to check how you are spending your money.
The Direct Payments Support Service understands that the support required will vary according to your skills and needs and although some people will only need assistance in the initial stages, others may require longer term support.
In order to make an informed choice it is important that you are aware of all the services that are available to you and that you fully understand the implications of receiving a direct payment, so please ask your social worker or care manager.
For further information or to discuss anything referred to here please contact:-
The Direct Payments Support Service
Independent Living Project
Units 3-5 Brunswick Court
William Street
Stockton-on-Tees, TS18 1DN
Tel: 01642 806855/806844
Tel/Fax: 01642 806833
e mail:independent.living.project@ic24.net
|
