Apply for direct payments

The booklets below tell you more about direct payments and help you decide whether to apply. They also give sources for finding out more information.

What are direct payments?

A direct payment is money the county council can give you to buy services or equipment to meet your assessed needs. You spend the money on getting the support that meets your assessed needs, such as employing personal care assistants, buying in care assistants from an agency or buying equipment.

You can have a direct payment for all the support you need, or for part of it.

Carers can also get a direct payment.

What can Direct Payments offer me?

Guide to managing your direct payment

Receiving direct payments does not mean you have to be able to manage your services without any help. It just means you can decide who provides you with your support, how they do it, and when they do it.

If you have decided to apply for a direct payment, the guides will give you practical advice about, managing your direct payment; recruiting and supervising staff; keeping safe and ensuring value for money. They also include web addresses for sites that provide resources for people managing budgets and employing people.

• Adult Social Care Direct Payments Guide (October 2018)
• Direct Payments - Becoming an employer (October 2022)
• Nominated Person Fact Sheet (October 2018)
• Authorised Person Fact Sheet (October 2018)
• Using an Agency Fact Sheet (April 2015)

Using a direct payment to buy equipment or make minor adaptations to your home

If you are assessed by an occupational therapist as needing equipment or a minor adaptation, we can give you a direct payment. You can use the payment to buy the equipment or pay for a minor adaptation to your home.

Where can you get support

As well as support from family and friends, and your social worker or care assessor, the council has put together a list of Direct Payment support service providers that can help.

More Information

For more information, or if you are a professional, please visit our Direct Payments - policy and procedures page.

Alternatively, contact The Care Advice Line on 01452 22 22 00 for independent information and advice on the financial aspects of care and support and access to further specialist financial advice.