Direct payments

Direct payments are available to any carer aged 16 or over. They are intended to allow carers to buy in services which they need to help them ensure their caring responsibilities do not prevent them from doing other things.

Under the scheme, the carer will receive money from Social Services to choose, control and organise their own arrangements by deciding how their needs will be met, by whom and at what time. Both carers and those they care for can benefit from more flexible care arrangements.

You may decide that social services can provide some or all the support you’ve been assessed as needing. But if the support they offer is not right for your needs, you can ask for direct payments so that you can buy it yourself.

Direct payments can only be spent on getting the support you have been assessed as needing.

For more information contact your local social services department.