Direct payments

Direct Payments are cash payments from the local authority (local council in Northern Ireland). They allow you to arrange and pay for your own care and support services, instead of receiving them directly from the council.

The aim of Direct Payments is to enable you to live more independently by giving you more control over who delivers your care and how.

Who is eligible?

Most people who receive help from social services will be entitled to Direct Payments. This includes:

• disabled people aged over 16 years old
• disabled parents for children’s services
• carers aged over 16 years old
• people with parental responsibility for disabled children

How to apply

Contact your local social services (social work department in Scotland, health and social services trust in Northern Ireland) to find out if you are eligible for Direct Payments.

What do Direct Payments allow you to do?

Direct Payments allow you to:

• receive assistance at home rather than in a care home
• choose which staff come to assist you
• buy aids to help with daily activities

You cannot use the money to buy services from the local authority, pay for residential care or employ a close relative living in the same household.

Personal assistance

Social services can help you find a personal assistant or you can advertise for one yourself.
If you do hire someone, remember that you will need to:

• check their qualifications and references
• outline clearly what you will need them to do
• take on the legal responsibilities of being an employer

Your local authority (or local council in Northern Ireland) will be able to advise you on your responsibilities as an employer. This will include paying tax and national insurance contributions.

The National Centre for Independent Living can also provide information on managing your own personal assistance.