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You may also find direct payments allow more flexibility. You can buy a mixture of services purchased with direct payments and services arranged from the Department of  Adult Social Services.  The Department of Adult Social Services can only offer direct payment if an assessment by a social work care manager demonstrates that you need community care services. You also have to be able to manage the services you buy and the direct payments, but you can have someone to help you to do this.

You cannot use a direct payment to pay for permanent residential or nursing care or for services provided directly by the Council. You must be aged 16 or over to receive a direct payment.

 What are Direct Payments?

Instead of providing community care services, such as home care or day care, the Department of Adult Social Services can offer some people a payment for them to arrange their own care. This is called Direct Payments. You must use the money to arrange services for yourself to meet your care needs. It is not an extra income to spend as you choose. Direct Payments will not be counted as an income when being assessed for social security benefits, and are not liable to income tax.

Who can have Direct Payments?

The Department of Adult Social Services can offer Direct Payments following an assessment by a care manager that shows that you need community care services because you are disabled and over 18 years old, or you are the carer of a disable person. The eligibility criteria for getting Direct Payments are the same as for the services that you would get if social workers arranged them for you.

The Department of Adult Social Services will only offer you Direct Payments if it is satisfied that you are able and willing to manage Direct Payments and if you meet national eligibility criteria. Adult Social Services will be able to tell you about this. 

Why would I want Direct Payments?

Direct Payments support independent living and help people with a disability to have increased choice and flexibility over how they run their lives.

If you receive Direct Payments, you can decide how your needs will be met, by whom and at what time. You are in control, and can employ your own staff to meet your needs, or if you contract with an agency, the agency will be accountable to you, not to the Department of Adult Social Services.

For example, many people need help to get out of bed in the morning. You may find that the home care arranged by the Department of Adult Social Services cannot come at the time you want. A person receiving Direct Payments can arrange for someone to come at whatever time they decide.

Direct Payments may improve your quality of life if you would like to manage your own support. You can use Direct Payments to help you live more independently, and it may offer opportunities for rehabilitation, education, leisure and employment.

You cannot use Direct Payments to pay for permanent residential or nursing care.

How much will my Direct Payments be?

The way that the Direct Payments are calculated is simple. The Council has a set rate per hour of home care. This is the most common service people have Direct Payments for. Your Social Worker or Care Manager will agree with you the amount of home care that is necessary to meet your needs and this is multiplied by the Direct Payments rate. Currently this is £8.10 per hour Monday to Friday, £12.15 per hour Saturday and Sunday, £39.42 for a sleepover and £72.14 for a waking night.

Whom can I have as a personal assistant?

It is up to you whom you can have as personal assistant, but there are some restrictions. You cannot employ someone who is a close relative who lives in the same household as you. 

How are the Direct Payments paid?

Direct Payments are paid electronically via the BACS system into your account. They are not paid by cheque or by cash. So that the Department of Adult Social Services can make the payments you will have to provide your bank details on a special form.

How do I ask for Direct Payments?

Please contact the Central Advice and Duty Team. They can answer all your questions about how to get help from the Department of Adult Social Services in Wirral. If you telephone, fax or write to the Central Advice and Duty Team, they will give you advice and information and can refer you on to the right person for further advice and help.

Telephone: 0151 606 2006

Fax: 0151 606 2600

PO Box 32
Birkenhead
Wirral
CH41 5WE