Direct Payments

Direct Payments Newsletters

What is Direct Payments?

Direct Payments are a way of giving you more control over the way your care needs are met. If you have been assessed as needing Community Care to help you to be more independent, you may wish to choose to receive cash to arrange the services you need.

Who can receive Direct Payments?

The vast majority of people receiving care from the council have the right to Direct Payments. If you are someone with:

physical disabilities
sensory impairment
learning difficulty
mental health problems
HIV/AIDS

Or, if you are:

An older person with chronic conditions
A carer
Families with disabled children for children's services.
The disabled parents for children's services.

How do I get Direct Payments?

You can request Direct Payment by contacting social services and asking for a community care assessment. If you already receive services, ask about the option of Direct Payments.
The local authorities have to offer Direct Payments as an option.
People who have been assessed as not needing services are not entitled to Direct Payments.
Local authorities should not limit direct payments to certain levels of care, or by the length of time you might need particular services.

What can I use my Direct Payments for?

Everyone's needs are different so it's important to discuss with your care manager what you would like to spend your Direct Payments on.

You can use Direct Payments:

instead of day centre
for respite
practical help; shopping, cleaning and preparing meals
daytime activities

How does it work?

When you have been assessed as needing services and have arranged to use Direct Payments, you will then have to find your personal assistants and be responsible for:

Recruiting and employing care workers
Organising and managing your own care workers
Opening a separate bank or building society account
Keeping simple financial records and information about your services and providing this information to the council for monitoring purposes

What are the advantages of using Direct Payments?

Control, choice, and independence of your care.
You decide how your needs are met.
You can choose the person; you may know someone who you want to be your personal assistant.

Documents for people receiving Direct Payments

These documents are currently available only in PDF format. You may need to download Adobe Acrobat Reader to open them.

Direct Payments Frequently Asked Questions

View the Direct Payments FAQ.

We are here to help you

At DASH we support people on Direct Payments. The support workers assist people on the scheme helping them run the scheme and keeping them up to date with paper work, as well as helping find and employ a personal assistant.

If you would like more information on Direct Payments or to arrange a group presentation on the scheme or to attend a training day on direct payment please contact us

We need volunteers

DASH is seeking volunteers who would like to support and assist disabled people who are in receipt of Direct Payments. We are looking for Volunteers to undertake simple administrative tasks and/or meet with clients to help them run the scheme.

If you are interested, and can spare a few hours or more in a week or month and have any of the following skills:

admin
speak any community languages other than English
able to complete benefit forms, or basic accountancy
interested in helping people with disabilities

please get in touch.

In return, we will offer you full training, pay for your travel expenses and provide you with references.

Please contact us.

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Future DP Forum Meetings

These will be held at Christ Church, Redford Way, Uxbridge (opposite Uxbridge Bus Station). This is an informal meeting. Tea and coffee is available and an opportunity for people using Direct Payments to chat to one another.

If you require transport, please contact Sue K or Sue H on 020 8848 8319.

Some useful contacts

Hillingdon People First Self advocacy for people with Learning Difficulties 020 8848 8319
One Stop Shop - Hayes Information on services in Hillingdon 01895 556 004, 49-51 Station Road, Hayes, UB3 4BE
The Employment Helpline Can help with a range of queries about being employed 0845 60 70 143
National Centre for Independent Living 020 7587 1663 250, Kennington Lane, London, SE11 5RD,
Text: 020 7582 2469