Direct payments
Direct payments are payments a local authority makes to a person so they can choose and buy their own care services.
This section explains who can have direct payments, how much they should be, how you can use them and how to solve any problems with direct payments.
Direct payments - what are they
Direct payments for social care services - overview.
Direct payments - who can have them
Who has an automatic right to receive direct payments to buy social care services, who may be allowed to receive them and who is excluded from having them.
Agreeing to direct payments
Agreeing to receive direct payments for social care services and who is a 'suitable person' to act as a representative if you are unable to give agreement by yourself.
How much should you get - direct payments for care
How direct payments should cover the actual cost of buying social care services, plus associated costs.
Monitoring and reviews of direct payments
How the local authority monitors and reviews the use of direct payments for social care services to ensure that your care needs are being met.
Problems with direct payments
When direct payments for social care services must be repaid, circumstances in which the you or the local authority can stop direct payments for social care services and how to make a complaint.
Support for people using direct payments
Support available from local authorities and other providers to help people manage direct payments they receive to buy social care services.
Using direct payments for care
What direct payments can be used for, covering employing carers direct, buying social care services through an agency, paying for equipment and short stays in care homes.