About Direct Payments

A Direct Payment is money from the council to help you get the care and support you need.

You can use this money to choose:

  • who helps you
  • how they help you
  • when they help you

This makes Direct Payments a flexible option that puts you in control.

Your Direct Payments are part of your personal budget.

Who can get Direct Payments

We may offer you Direct Payments if:

  • you're eligible for funded social care services
  • you have complex learning difficulties or disabilities and an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP)
  • you are:
    • an adult aged 18 or over who needs care and support
    • a parent or carer of a disabled child
    • a young person aged 16 or 17 living with a disability
    • a carer who needs support

About the cost

If you're over 18, you may need to pay some money yourself. We’ll assess your income and savings to work out whether this applies to you.

If you’re claiming benefits

Direct payments will not affect your benefits. This includes Personal Independence Payment (PIP).

This is because Direct Payments are not counted as income. They’re designed to support your care, not replace your financial entitlements.

Before your Direct Payments start

Before your Direct Payments can start, you’ll work with your caseworker to create a care and support plan. You must use your Direct Payments to pay for things that help meet the agreed outcomes of this plan.

You, or your representative, must sign a Direct Payment agreement. This confirms that you’ll use the funding only as agreed.

Reviews and monitoring

Your Direct Payments will be reviewed within the first 6 months, and then at least once per year after that.

We may ask to see records such as receipts or invoices. Keeping these may be your responsibility, or the responsibility of the person managing your account. Find more information on ways to receive your Direct Payment.

Direct Payments policy

For more detailed information, you can visit our document page to download the Direct Payments policy.