Direct payments

A direct payment is money we can pay directly to you if you have been assessed as needing support. This is used to arrange your own care instead of Social services providing it for you.

In the past, councils organised all the care support services that people needed, but from April 2003 councils have a duty to make direct payments available to everyone that is eligible. 

Eligibility for direct payments

The majority of people who are disabled or have a disabling illness and have been assessed as needing help to live independently are eligible for direct payments.  This includes:

• older people
  
• people with mental health needs
  
• carers
  
• children with disabilities
• disabled people aged 16 and over

Advantages of using direct payments

Direct payments means that people have more control over how their needs are met. You may decide to use the money to employ someone of your own choice to help and assist you.

Alternatively you may decide to use an agency to provide the support you need.  Direct payments allow you more flexibility so that you can vary the times that someone comes to assist you based on what you need on a day to day basis.

You can also have some of your support needs met through direct payments while having another part arranged by the council.  As long as you use the money to meet your assessed needs you are in control.

Keeping records and receipts

There are responsibilities that come with having direct payments but Brent council has made arrangements to ensure that you can have support you need to manage it.

You will have to show that you are using direct payments to meet your assessed needs so you will need to keep some receipts. We are aiming to introduce pre-payment cards during 2010 which will make direct payments easier to manage.

Direct Payment Support service

The Direct Payment Support Service within Brent Council's Adult Social Care Department will help and assist you with all the guidance and information that you will need if you decide to choose direct payments.  You can also get help with from a friend or relative.

Direct Payment Peer Support Group

The Direct Payment Peer Support Group is a group of people who use direct payments to manage their own support. The group meets at least every 3 months and it is a great opportunity to meet other people who use direct payments, to hear tips from them and from staff managing your money and about services you can use locally.

Social Care staff attend the meetings so that you can talk to them, find out about the council's plans and influence how things are done in the future.

It is a very sociable group and an opportunity to make new friends.

If you would like to find out more about Direct Payment Support Group please call 020 8937 4157.

To view Minutes  (.doc, 26Kb) of the recent Direct Payment Support Group meetings.