You may be required to make a contribution towards the cost of your care – just as you may already be paying towards services provided by your local authority. Any contribution you do make is based on your ability to pay. A financial assessment will be carried out by an officer from the local authority before you need to decide about having a direct payment.

If your care package is dependent on you making a personal contribution, it is very important that you make arrangements to make this payment.

Yes. You can opt in or opt out of receiving a direct payment at any time. A few people experience some problems at the outset as everything is new to them, but your independent living adviser (ILA) will discuss ways of helping you to manage your direct payment more easily.

No. Any money you receive from your local authority (LA) as a direct payment for care, will not affect any benefits you receive from the Department of Work and Pensions. A direct payment is not liable for income tax.

In most circumstances, if you are already entitled to community care services, you will have the right to be offered a direct payment. Direct payments are available to many people, including:

• People with physical disabilities
  
• People with a sensory impairment
  
• People with learning disabilities
  
• People using mental health services
  
• People affected by HIV / AIDS
  
• Carers of any of the above groups
  
• People with parental responsibility for a disabled child
  
• Older people

You must want to have a direct payment – no one can force you to have this.

Receiving a direct payment instead of direct care services can seem daunting at the beginning.  This is where a support services provider like Penderels Trust can help.  We are able to assist with all aspects of a direct payment, for example helping you to manage your care money, dealing with employment issues, paying your staff etc. Once your package is established, your independent living adviser (ILA) will assist you to take on more responsibility for the management of your direct payment, but will always be available to support you if you need some help.

The way support services are offered to direct recipients does vary from one local authority area to another.  Your ILA will let you know what services you can receive in your area and whether you need to pay for them or if they are funding by your local authority.

You will need to open a separate bank account for your direct payment.  Once the costing has been done for your care package and the amount of money agreed, the local authority will pay the agreed amount every four weeks into your direct payment bank account.  It is usually slightly higher than the amount you need to pay out to your staff or care agency.  This creates a small 'reserve' which should be left in the account.

When you take on a direct payment, it is your responsibility to make sure there is always enough money in your account to pay for your care support, such as staff wages or care agency invoices.  You will be accountable to the local authority for your spending.

You need to keep track of money coming in to and leaving the account.  Your independent living adviser (ILA) can help you to keep a record of this.  Most local authorities require you to provide a record of income and expenditure and copies of your direct payment bank account statements.  This is usually requested every three months and is often referred to as 'financial monitoring'.

A direct payment is not intended to replace existing networks of family support. However you can employ a relative who does not live at the same address as you, if you feel this helps.

Be sure to discuss this with your independent living adviser first to make sure you are aware of all the options.

Some people are understandably apprehensive about becoming an employer. We have many years of experience assisting people to live independently, with many types of support.

Your independent living adviser can guide you with all aspects of employment, from the recruitment stage to establishing employment contracts, inducting, training and paying staff and, if necessary, resolving any disputes. In the event of disputes, you can also seek independent advice from the Arbitration, Conciliation and Advisory Service (ACAS) on:

0845 7474747 or by visiting their website: www.acas.org.uk.

Specific details on employment and payroll matters appear in separate leaflets in this guide. We also provide access to an employment indemnity and advice service, however this cannot usually be funded from your direct payment money.

No. A direct payment is an alternative to services offered by your local social services department. However you can choose to have your needs met by using a package of care, e.g. partly with community care services and partly with a direct payment.

Your independent living adviser (ILA) will help you prepare a 'contingency' (back-up) plan to cover occasions when your PA or care agency cannot provide a service. In such cases, social services may put extra money into your care account to cover any additional costs of care. Social services have a legal 'duty of care' and in an emergency they may choose to meet your needs by providing emergency agency cover.