Direct Payments
Money we can give you to choose and pay for the community care support you need.
What is a direct payment?
A direct payment is a different way of getting the support you need. It is money paid direct to you so you can decide who provides the personal assistance you need, instead of the council arranging it for you.
This gives you control over who provides your support and how, when and what they do.
Direct payments can help you be more independent. With direct payments you can pay someone called a personal assistant to support you or you can ask an agency to arrange this for you. This means having control over your life, making your own choices and doing things for yourself.
A direct payment is not a welfare benefit. This means it will not affect the welfare benefits or social security benefits that you already get. It is not counted as taxable income.
Is a direct payment right for you?
Not everyone wants a direct payment. It's important to work out if it might be right for you. You don't have to do this on your own. You can talk to your family, friends, carers and your social worker to help you decide. Here are some things to think about:
- Are you happy with the community care services you use?
- Would you like to be more independent?
- Do you want to be more in control of who supports you?
If your answer to any of these questions is yes, then direct payments could help you get the support you need.
Who can apply for a direct payment?
Most people who are assessed as needing community care services will have a right to direct payments. You can get a direct payment if:
- you currently get support from social services; or
- you ask us to look at your needs and we agree you need support.
Some examples are:
- older people who have been assessed as needing community care services;
- disabled people aged 16 or over, including those with short and long term needs;
- carers - in place of receiving carers services;
- families with disabled children - for children's services; and
- disabled parents - for children's services.
There are some limited circumstances where we would not be able offer a direct payment. We will explain why if this affects you.
What can direct payments be used for?
- Personal assistance and support to help you live in your own home - help with having a bath, getting dressed, cooking, cleaning the house.
- Support to get out and about - a personal assistant can drive you to see friends or help you to join in things with other people.
- Help with short breaks at home or somewhere else so that carers can take a break.
Your social worker will help you to understand what you can and can't spend the money on.
How do I get a direct payment?
The council's Direct Payments team, Age Concern and Wirral Information Resource for Equality and Disability (WIRED) and the Merseyside Coalition of Inclusive Living (MCIL) working in partnership and can offer advice and support to help you manage your direct payment. We can offer you training and advice on all aspects of employing and recruiting people to look after you and WIRED provide a payroll service. There is also a direct payments user support group (SAILL) that will support you and offer advice.
For older people, there are support workers at Age Concern Liverpool who are available to talk to you about how the scheme works and give advice, support and assistance with setting you up on Direct Payments. They will continue to be available if you need help or support when you are receiving Direct Payments.
Useful contacts
Contact the Direct Payments by calling Careline on 0151 233 3800.
Careline - our fully trained customer advisers and social workers offer a confidential service 24 hours a day, 7 days a week - call 0151 233 3800, Minicom 0151 225 2500 or email wecanhelp@liverpool.gov.uk
Age Concern (Liverpool), Sir Thomas House, 5 Sir Thomas Street,
Liverpool L1 6BW. Telephone 0151 330 5678.
E mail: mail@aceliverpool.org.uk
Merseyside Coalition of Inclusive Living, c/o Lime Court Centre, Upper Baker Street, Liverpool L6 1AE. Telephone 0151 260 4001. email info@mcil.org.uk
Support and Advice on Independent Living in Liverpool (SAILL) can be contacted through Merseyside Coalition of Inclusive Living on 0151 260 4001.
Check out our new website for people over 50 that gives you all the information you need for council services, health services and leisure activities www.fiftyplus.liverpool.gov.uk
Help the Aged Senior Line: Telephone 0808 800 6565
An Easy Guide to Direct Payments is available on the Department of Health web site www.dh.gov.uk
Have your Say
If you have a comment, compliment or complaint about any council service you can pick up a copy of our 'Have your say' leaflet at any council one stop shop or you can telephone Liverpool Direct 233 3000.
If you want help in making a comment, compliment or complaint about any council service, we can provide you with information on local advocacy organisations - call Careline on 0151 233 3800, Minicom 0151 225 2500 or email wecanhelp@liverpool.gov.uk