Carers Association Southern Staffordshire

The individual receives the cash equivalent of a directly provided service. This is available for social care only, and can be used to contract with a private or voluntary sector agency or to become an employer by hiring your own staff – it cannot be used to purchase public sector services.

Direct Payments for Carers:

Direct payments are local council payments available for anyone who has been assessed as needing help from social services. You can normally get them if you are a carer aged 16 or over.

Direct payments can be used to buy services from an organisation or to employ somebody to provide assistance.

As a carer, you can use a direct payment to purchase the services you are assessed as needing to support you in your caring role. This includes support that may help maintain your health and well-being. For example, driving lessons or a holiday so you can have time to yourself.

If you are assessed as needing domestic help, you may ask for a direct payment and buy the support services you need.

You cannot use direct payments to buy services for the person you care for. They can only be spent on getting the support you, as a carer, have been assessed as needing.

You also cannot use direct payments to secure a service from your spouse or civil partner, close relatives or anyone who lives in the same household as you, unless that person is someone who you have specifically recruited to be a live-in employee.

There can be exceptional circumstances, which your council may agree with you.

Eligibility

If you already receive social services

Your local council has to offer you the option of direct payments in place of the services you currently receive. Under some circumstances you cannot get direct payments. Your council will be able to tell you about these.

If you're not receiving social services

To get direct payments you will need to contact your local council to ask them to assess your needs.

Direct payments - money from the local council to pay for care services - is not the same as Direct Payment - pensions and benefits paid directly into an account.

Links:

Direct Gov - Direct payments for carers - arranging help and services:

DirectGov

NHS Carers Direct - Direct Payments:

www.nhs.uk/CarersDirect/carerslives/updates/Documents/direct-payments.pdf

Staffordshire County Council - Direct Payments: www.staffordshire.gov.uk/health/care/directpayments/

Individual/Personal Budgets:

This involves being clear how much money is available to meet a person’s assessed needs, then allowing them maximum choice over how much money is spent and on what.