Self-directed support, direct payments and personal assistants

A guide to directing your own care and support, receiving direct payments and employing a personal assistant.

Direct payments

If you have been assessed as needing social care we can make a direct payment to you. You can use this money to pay for the things agreed in your personal plan, such as:

Direct payments give you more flexibility, choice and control over your support so that you can live more independently.

If you receive a direct payment you will be in charge of the arrangements, although you may wish to have support from family or friends, or to pay for this from an appropriate agency or an approved payroll provider.

You can also choose to organise some of your support through a direct payment and have other services arranged for you by us.

Payments are made monthly in advance.