Direct Payments

Cash payments made to people assessed by North Yorkshire Council as having eligible care and support needs. Direct Payments are available to most eligible people, including:

• People who have been assessed as needing short- or long-term care and support (including those with mental health needs) aged 16 and over.

• Carers over 16 for carers’ services.

• Parents of disabled children, for children’s services.

To help you stay safe and living well in your own home, you can use these payments to arrange your own care services, either by yourself or with assistance. Carers could also receive a payment to look after their own wellbeing that could help them to continue their caring role.

You do not have to take your whole Personal Budget as a Direct Payment. You can choose to combine a Direct Payment with a Managed Personal Budget or Individual Service Fund to have services purchased and provided by us or an external service provider.

If you choose to arrange your own services via a Direct Payment; we will complete a financial assessment to understand whether you will need to pay towards some or all of the cost of your support. For more information about financial assessments, see page 54.

Why would I want a Direct Payment?

Direct Payments allow you more control over the decisions that affect your life. They provide more flexibility and choice, over who, how and when you receive your support.

Payment to buy services from an agency or you could employ a personal assistant.

Using Direct Payments to arrange your own services means the providers you choose are accountable directly to you and not to North Yorkshire Council. Direct Payments do not count as income and will not affect your benefits.

You can use your Direct Payment creatively, as long as the money is spent to meet your needs and is used lawfully. The flexibility that these payments allow means it is impractical to outline how you can spend them. However, there are certain things on which you cannot use the money to pay for, for instance:

• Services that should be provided by the NHS.

• Routine living expenditures, such as utility and household bills.

• Permanent or long-term residential or nursing care.

• Employing a spouse, partner or other close relative, if that person lives with you in the same household.

• Anything that does not meet your agreed needs.

Most people use Direct Payments to purchase regular, ongoing support. However, we can make a single payment. For example, to allow a person to purchase a piece of equipment or a short period of respite to give a carer a break from their caring role.

What do I do next?

If you are interested in Direct Payments, call our Customer Service Centre on: 0300 131 2 131 or email: social.care@northyorks.gov.uk

What can Direct Payments be used for?

You can use a Direct Payment to pay for services, equipment or activities to meet your assessed eligible needs as long as they are legal, and keep you safe and well. For example, you could use a Direct