Introduction
This booklet has been created to offer information and advice to anyone receiving or for people considering taking out a direct payment.
The information in this guide is to help you decide if taking a direct payment is the right option for you. The information is intended solely for guidance.
This is general guidance about direct payments, should your query be more specific you should contact the Customer Contact Centre Team via our portal, which is the fastest and easiest way to reach us: https://www.livewellsouthend.com/care-support-adults/adult-social-care-portal or 01702 215008 if you do not have internet access.
What is a direct payment?
A direct payment is money paid to you to meet your eligible care and support needs, and it lets you choose and buy the services you need yourself, instead of the Council arranging them for you.
Having a direct payment means that some, or all, of your personal budget from the Council is paid directly to you.
Your personal budget is the money that we have worked out, which is available for you to spend on your own care and support.
A direct payment is one of the options for you to manage your personal budget. The other option is:
- The Council manages your budget and arranges care and support for you
A direct payment is different from the other welfare benefits that you may get which are paid by the Department for Work and Pension (DWP). Direct payment money remains the property of the Council even after it has been paid into your account, and it can only be used to meet the needs agreed in your care and support plan.
Where direct payment money is not spent or is not all needed, it must be returned to the Council.