If you are assessed as requiring a Community Care or Children & Families service|, you can now ask for a direct payment. This means instead of having the service provided by the council, you can ask for the money to allow you to buy your own services appropriate to your assessed needs.
Why choose a direct payment?
Direct payments give you more control over your life and the plans you make. It enables you to choose who supports you, how and when.
You can use your direct payment money to:
-
employ a personal assistant to come to your home to assist you
-
contract with an agency or organisation
-
pay for day or evening activities instead of going to a day service
-
arrange a short break/respite.
For more information on direct payments, you can download our leaflets on direct payments, or alternatively you can contact us using the contact details shown.
Is there a charge for direct payment?
There is no charge for direct payments for services delivered in your home. Depending on the type of services and your financial circumstances, there may be a charge for respite care services/short breaks.
Please note that direct payments do not affect your benefits.
Who can receive a direct payment?
Those who are entitled to receive a direct payment include:
-
disabled adults assessed as needing community care services
-
disabled 16 and 17 year olds assessed as needing children’s services
-
parents, or people with parental responsibility for a disabled child (under the age of 18) who has been assessed as needing children’s services
-
attorneys and guardians with welfare and financial powers to act on behalf of the person who needs the services.
And remember, you can easily revert back to Social Work arranging your services if it doesn’t suit you.
For more information on how to access the direct payment scheme, please contact your local social work office|. Alternatively, you can contact the Forth Valley Direct Payment Support Service using the details shown.
A user's guide to self-directed support
The Scottish Government document 'Directing your own support: a user's guide to self-directed support in Scotland' may also be useful to you. It offers advice to people thinking about being in charge of their own social care support (for example, receiving their own direct payments) as well as for those already receiving this service. You can download this document from the Scottish Government's website|.