If you are eligible for a community-care service such as home care, respite or day services, you can now choose to receive an agreed amount of money from us instead of us providing the care. This will mean you can arrange your own help and support to meet your needs.
When we give people money in this way it is known as direct payments. Choosing to receive direct payments means you can decide how your needs will be met, who will give you support and when.
A direct payment cannot affect social security benefits, and it cannot be classed as taxable income.
Direct payments give you more say and greater choice. You can decide how your needs will be met, by whom and at what time.
You can choose how payments are made to you. There are three options available and you can switch between these at any time:
Direct payments to a bank acount
Direct payments to a pre-paid card
Virtual budget
Who can receive direct payments?
To be considered you must have been assessed by your social worker as qualifying for help and where we would otherwise provide a direct service.
Direct payments can be made to:
people with a physical, sensory or learning disability
people with long term illness
people with mental health needs
a carer of someone aged 18 and over with needs
relevant to the groups of people detailed above
adults with parental responsibility for a child with a disability
What can direct payments be used for?
Payments must be used for care services that a person has been assessed for. For example, many people need help to get out of bed in the morning. You may find that the home help cannot come at the time you want. A person receiving direct payments can arrange for someone to visit them at whatever time they want. They cannot be used to pay for people living in the same household as you to provide care.
Will direct payments affect my other benefits?
Direct payments are separate from social services benefits. Receiving a direct payment does not affect any other benefits.
What support is available?
We will provide support as necessary, for example:
help finding a carer or personal assistant
help with the paperwork
help opening a bank account (if applicable)
Contact us
For further information please contact our Adult Access team.
41 New Heston Road
Heston
TW5 0LW
Email: adultsocialcare@hounslow.gov.uk
Tel: 020 8583 3100
Minicom: 020 8583 3186
Fax: 020 8583 3187