This section provides information about Direct Payments, click on the links below to jump to a specific section. For further information contact the AiLN office on 01294 272260.

What is a Direct Payment?| Direct Payment:facts| Who can receive Direct Payments?| How can Direct Payments be used?| How do I start receiving Direct Payments?

What is a Direct Payment?

If you are disabled or are the parent or guardian of a disabled person, you can arrange to receive Direct Payments from your local authority. Direct Payments are paid directly to you, allowing you to purchase the services you need yourself.

Direct Payments can either be used as an alternative to local authority social services, or in conjunction with them.

By receiving Direct Payments you can control how the money that you have been allocated is spent.

Receiving Direct Payments to manage your own support can offer a number of advantages over relying
solely on your local authority social services:

• YOU decide WHO will best meet your needs, and WHEN.
  
• If you need a greater amount of support at any time you can arrange this easily, without having to
  rely on "crisis" or emergency social service provision or go into hospital.
  
• You can use Direct Payments to pursue your own interests, instead of being constrained by having to make do with the services that are on offer from your local authority.
  

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Direct Payments: facts

From June 2003, it became a duty of local authorities in Scotland to offer Direct Payments to eligible parties.

Direct Payments must be paid into a separate bank account, opened specifically for that purpose.

Direct Payments are not taxable, and do not affect your Social Security benefits.

In the future Direct Payments will be extended to other community care clients, for example older frail people.

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Who can receive Direct Payments?

Disabled people who are over 16 and in receipt of one or more of the following council services may be able to receive Direct Payments:

• D.L.A. (Disability Living Allowance)
  
• Community Care
  
• Children's Services
  
• Attendance Allowance
  
• Home or Day Care
  

If you are responsible for someone with disabilities, it is possible for you to receive Direct Payments on their behalf. You can receive Direct Payments on behalf of somebody else if you are:

• The attorney or guardian of a disabled person
  
• A parent who is purchasing care services for a disabled child
  

The definition of the word 'disability' as it is used here includes any type of disability, whether physical or learning disability. It also includes people who are disabled by illness, such as those diagnosed as having mental illness or HIV/AIDS. Your local authority will only offer you Direct Payments if it is satisfied that you are able and willing to manage Direct Payments and if you meet national eligibility criteria. Your local authority will be able to tell you about this. You may receive as much help as you need from someone else with managing Direct Payments if you need it. You must be eligible to receive community care services or if aged 16 or 17 be eligible for children's services. If you are a disabled parent you can also receive Direct Payments to buy the services your children need.

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How can Direct Payments be used?

Allowable uses of Direct Payments include:

• Employing a carer or personal assistant
  
• Purchasing services from an independent agency or the council
  
• Purchasing housing support services
  
• Purchasing short breaks or respite care (under certain circumstances)
  
• Purchasing equipment (within agreed limits)
  

Direct Payments can only be used to purchase services stated in your care plan. Your local authority social services department will explain how the money that you receive can be spent.

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How do I start receiving Direct Payments?

Before you can receive Direct Payments, you must have received a community care assessment.

If you have already been assessed as requiring community care services, and currently receive support from your local authority social services, you can ask your social worker, care co-ordinator or Ayrshire Independent Living Network about the possibility of receiving Direct Payments.

If you have not already been assessed (or you have been assessed in the past but think that your circumstances have changed since that assessment) you should contact your local social services department and ask for a community care assessment.

• If you have not been assessed contact your local social services department and ask for a community care assessment.
  
• Contact your social worker or care manager or Ayrshire Independent Living Network and tell them you are interested in Direct Payments.
  
• Someone will visit you to talk about the kind of help you think you need. Tell them that you are interested in Direct Payments.

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