If a council assessment finds you eligible for support, you can usually take that support as money rather than as services the council chooses. That is a direct payment, and it is what lets people pick their own provider.
A personal budget is the amount the council has decided your eligible needs cost. A direct payment is one way of receiving it — paid to you (or a nominated person) so you can arrange the care yourself. The alternatives are a council-arranged service or a mix of both.
Direct payments must meet the outcomes in your care and support plan. They are flexible within that, but they are not unrestricted cash.
Employing a personal assistant directly makes you an employer — contracts, payroll, tax, insurance, and finding cover when they are ill or on holiday. Using a registered agency instead moves all of that, plus training, supervision and CQC oversight, onto the provider. Many families use their direct payment exactly this way.
We can invoice the local authority directly where a direct payment or personal budget agreement is in place.
If the council's budget covers fewer hours than you want, you can normally pay privately for additional hours alongside. Keep the two clearly separated in your records — councils audit direct payment spending.
Request a care needs assessment from your local council. If you are found eligible, ask specifically to receive your personal budget as a direct payment.
Rarely all of it. It covers the needs the council assessed as eligible, at their rate; many families top up privately for additional hours.
Yes, where a direct payment or personal budget agreement is in place.
Yes — councils require records showing the payment was spent on the agreed outcomes. Agency invoices make this straightforward.
Attendance Allowance is a separate, non-means-tested benefit and can usually be received alongside. See our funding guide.
We'll show you exactly what your budget buys in hours — call 01784 740078 for an itemised quote.
We'll show you exactly what your budget buys in hours — call 01784 740078 for an itemised quote.
