Direct Payments

People with disabilities who require help to live a normal life now have the right to receive direct payments for this purpose. One aim of Direct Payments is to give disabled people more control over the services they receive. A second aim is to provide greater choice over what is available, and it is hoped that new services and opportunities will develop in order to make this choice as wide as possible.

Before any Direct Payments can be made it is necessary to have a Community Care Assessment, as described above. However the traditional assessment process may not be entirely suitable for people thinking of Direct Payments because these assessments often focus on disability and on the need for help or care. It is important therefore to ensure that all the positive things which help to make your life more fulfilling are included in the assessment.

Ways in which Direct Payments can be used:

• Employing a personal assistant to help you at home, to go out with you to shop or for recreational purposes, or help you to attend college or university - including taking notes of lectures etc.
  
  
• Paying for you to attend a wide range of leisure and recreational activities, possibly as an alternative to attending a day centre or adult training centre.
  
  
• Arranging a short break or respite, possibly in accommodation specially designed for disabled people and their families/carers.
  
  
• Participating in personal development and other programmes (e.g. confidence building), fatigue management, stress or anger/fear/frustration management, communication skills, relaxation/cognitive symptom management.