Myths and facts about direct payments

There can be a lot to learn when first using direct payments, especially if used to employ a personal assistant (PA).

People using direct payments will need to keep records of the money they receive and spend, which means keeping receipts, invoices and managing their bank account.

However, every local authority in Wales has at least one service that will support people to manage their direct payments, giving more or less support depending on what the individual needs and wants.

Families can obtain direct payments to meet the care and support needs of a disabled child. They can also use them to pay for support or breaks for parent carers.

In this film, parent carer Jody talks about how direct payments provide activities for her disabled son and allows time out for the rest of the family.

The great thing about direct payments is the opportunity to be creative.

Employing a PA is one of many options to meet an individual's personal well-being outcomes.

For example, direct payments can be used to buy equipment, pay for activities to reduce loneliness, isolation or to develop confidence or gym membership or transport to access community facilities.

Not everyone who uses direct payments will choose to have a PA. Not everyone who has a PA will choose to become an employer.

If an individual is uncomfortable with being an employer, they may use direct payments to buy services from an agency, or they can access support services that will help them to be an employer.

There is more information about this in the page Accessing support to be a direct payments employer.

This has always been allowed by the relevant legislation and the Part 4 Code of Practice the Social Services and Well-being Act (Wales) 2014, paragraph 165 says: “the employment of a relative living in the same household is often the most suitable way of providing care.”

Direct payments are designed to be flexible, and direct payments recipients must be able to ‘bank’ any unused payment to use as and when extra needs arise, as set out in paragraph 159 of the Part 4 Code of Practice for the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act.

The banked payments must still be used to achieve the recipient’s personal outcomes, as agreed with the local authority.

Individuals will agree with their local authority how to meet their care and support needs, or support needs for carers.

Direct payments offer flexibility and choice about how to meet care and support needs, but they can only be spent in line with the support plan.

If the individual’s needs change, then the support plan can be reviewed.

PAs can provide a range of care and support; their role will depend on the individual or carer and what they have agreed as part of their support plan.

This may include:

• help with getting washed, dressed or preparing meals
• support for a carer to maintain their well-being
• support with activities such as going swimming and attending evening classes or social activities
• support with accessing and understanding daily tasks such as paying bills and responding to letters.

Direct payments can be used by anyone who has an eligible support need, for instance older people, parents of children with care and support needs, carers over 16 or people who have mental health issues.

Direct payments are not a form of income. They are given to pay for services or equipment to meet people’s care and support needs.

This means they don’t affect benefit entitlement or income tax.

Direct payments will not suit everybody.

Some individuals and carers are content with the services their local authority arranges for them.

Others don’t want to be responsible for organising and paying for their own services and prefer to leave these tasks to the local authority.

Everyone who is assessed as eligible for care and support and carers eligible for support should be made aware that direct payments are an option for them and how they could be used.

They should also be informed of the support available to manage their direct payments and how this can be arranged through families or services.

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