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.
For example you could 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 leaflet on direct payments, or alternatively you can contact us using the contact details shown.
Is there a charge for direct payment?
Depending on the type of services you receive and your financial circumstances, there may be a charge.
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 requiring community care services,including housing support services
-
disabled 16 and 17 year olds assessed as requiring community care services,including housing support services
-
disabled people with parental responsibility to purchase the children's services their children have been assessed as needing
-
parents and people with parental responsibility for a child in need (under the age of 16 years) who has been assessed as requiring children’s services
-
parents and people with parental responsibility for children whose health or development may be impaired or below a reasonable standard without services from the local authority
-
older people aged 65 years and over who are assessed as needing community care services due to infirmity or age
-
attorneys and guardians with relevant powers can receive self-directed support on behalf of people who are unable to give consent to arranging their own 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|.