Direct payments

Fact Sheet No: FS6
Name of Service: Direct Payments
Abbreviation: DP
Service Type:

About this service

What is a Direct Payment?

If you have been assessed as needing community care services and are capable of managing a Direct Payment (with assistance, if necessary) you can decide to receive a payment and organise and buy those services yourself.

What can I use the Direct Payment for?

Direct Payments can be used to arrange support designed to meet your individual needs. We will agree these needs together and write them in your care plan.

A Direct Payment is sometimes given so that you can arrange a short break (respite) or for you to buy the equipment that you need to stay independent.

Direct Payments can be used to pay for help with:

Personal tasks such as getting up, washing, dressing, going to bed etc.
Practical tasks such as food preparation, cooking, shopping and other related tasks to help you to live in your own home.

You can choose to buy care from an agency or to employ your own personal assistant.

If I am a carer, what can I use the Direct Payment for?

You can get a Direct Payment to pay for support or services which will help you to carry on as a carer - you cannot use the payment for support to the person you care for.

Are there things that I can’t use Direct Payments for?

Direct payments are not extra money for you to spend just as you wish and there are also some things that they cannot be used for:

Health services.
Permanent residential or nursing home care.
Services which are managed by the Council – such as our in-house home care service.

How much will I get?

The amount of money we will pay you depends on the level of your needs and the support you require to live in your own home – we take into account what it would cost if the Council provided the services instead.

Unless you are a carer, you will usually have to pay a contribution to the cost of your services.

What help and support can I have?

We have a Support Service which is able to provide information and advice. It can put you in touch with other people receiving, or considering a Direct Payment.

What else do I need to know?

You will be asked to open a separate account. Usually the Council will pay you monthly in advance.

You will have to provide records of how you have spent the money – we will give you some simple forms for this and you can have help with this if you need it.

Direct Payments are not counted as income and are not taken into account by either the Benefits Agency or Inland Revenue.

Contact Details

How and when can you contact us?

Please contact the Social Care Help Desk:

Telephone: 0300 456 0111

Email: socialcarehelpdesk@wiltshire.gov.uk

Fax: 01225 713355

Weekdays:

Monday – Thursday - 08:30 – 17:20
Friday - 08:30 – 16:20

If you need urgent help outside of these hours, you can call the Emergency Duty Service on 0845 60 70 888

This Fact Sheet can be produced, on request, in other formats and languages. Please contact the Social Care Help Desk on 0300 456 0111