Direct PaymentsOpening the door to independent living
What are Direct Payments?Direct Payments: can help you become more independent are a way of giving you money to help pay for your care support are money from Social Services you use to pay for your care support Direct payments help you choose what YOU want. YOU WILL BE ABLE TO MAKE YOUR OWN CHOICES Instead of having your care support provided directly by Social Services, you can get direct payments instead. This means you can choose and buy services to meet your assessed needs. You use direct payments to arrange your own support, but you can have help to do that. Direct payments: are not taxable because they do not replace your income do not affect any benefits you may be receiving TopWhat is the difference between direct payments and Direct Payment?Direct payments – arranging your own care and services If you are disabled, you may choose to have direct payments to buy services that meet your assessed needs instead of receiving services directly provided by your local council. Direct Payment – pensions and benefits The Direct Payment ‘Giving it to you straight' programme is the way all benefits; state pensions and war pensions will be paid. Order books and giros are being phased out and your money will be paid straight into an account at a bank, building society or Post Office. There is more information about Direct Payment on the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) website plus an information line where you can also get information in the alternative formats of Braille, large print and audiocassette. Telephone: 0800 107 2000 Textphone: 0800 107 4000 The Government has recognised the confusion being caused by these two terms and is in the process of re-naming Direct Payments. TopWho Can Get Direct Payments?Most people who get social services from the council have a right to direct payments. Your local council MUST offer you direct payments in place of the services you currently receive. More specifically the groups covered by Direct Payments are:
TopWhat Can You Use Direct Payments For?The money is for you to use to arrange the services (including equipment), which the local council has assessed you as needing. Your local council social services department will explain what the money can and cannot be spent on. You might need help to do everyday things at home, during the day or at night or when you go out. You could use Direct Payments to employ your own personal assistant or to buy care from an agency. You might use Direct Payments to buy and arrange your own short break away from home. If you are a regular carer for a disabled person, you might need more breaks or support. You could use Direct Payments to pay for anything which Social Services agrees would help you to continue as a carer, but you cannot use direct payments to buy care for someone else. Direct payments are intended to support adults in independent living, so you cannot use them to pay for permanent residential accommodation. You may be able to use direct payments for occasional short periods in residential accommodation, if your local council agrees that is what is needed. Direct payments are not intended to replace existing support networks within families and communities. For this reason, you may not normally use direct payments for a service from: Your spouse or partner; 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). You should discuss your situation with the local council if you think that any person you would like to employ or purchase services from might fall into one of these categories. In exceptional circumstances, your local council may be prepared to consider allowing you to use direct payments to pay them. TopHow Do You Get Direct Payments?Your social worker should discuss this option with you when they assess your care needs. If they do not, or if you already get services, ask your local council about direct payments. There are some limited circumstances where direct payments are not given and your council will be able to tell you about these. To get Direct Payments you must first have an assessment of your care needs by Social Services. If you have already been assessed, ask them for a review of your care needs. Tell them you would like Direct Payments. You can get more information about having your needs assessed from your local Social Service offices. TopWhat Responsibilities Would You Have As A Direct Payment User?YOU CAN GET HELP WITH ANY OR ALL OF THESE THINGS. You Must: Be willing to receive Direct Payments Be able to manage Direct Payments Make your own decisions and choices about your care arrangements Be able to communicate your wishes Only spend the money on services to meet your assessed needs as in your care plan Keep records of how the money is spent and agree for these to be checked regularly by the council Follow good employer practiceIf your direct payment is made by Social Services in Sheffield you can get help from Penderels Trust: assisting service-users with all aspects of independent living. www.djthompson.co.uk/ptnew/index.htm or contact Penderels Trust at: Unit 2 1 Hayland Street Sheffield S9 1BY Telephone: - 0114 2438111 TopUseful links for more information to do with Direct PaymentsDepartment of Health : A guide to receiving direct payments National Centre for Inclusive Living: This website is designed to be a resource on independent living and Direct Payments for disabled people and others working in the field. Directgov: is the place to turn for the latest and widest range of public service information. Packed with advice it also points you to the most useful online services from across government. www.direct.gov.ukWhy not contact us to discuss your requirements further? We'd be delighted to help. |
|