{"id":595,"date":"2013-05-01T08:49:24","date_gmt":"2013-05-01T08:49:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/adultsocialcareandhealth\/?page_id=595"},"modified":"2025-11-06T09:17:04","modified_gmt":"2025-11-06T09:17:04","slug":"direct-payments","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/adult-social-care\/assessments\/care-support-needs-assessments\/personal-budgets\/self-directed-support\/direct-payments\/","title":{"rendered":"Direct payments – more detail"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

You can choose to arrange your own care and ask Devon County Council (DCC) for help towards the cost of that care. If eligible, the money we send you is called a direct payment. The amount of money we provide will be based on your social care needs assessment<\/a>, which will have used typical costs to calculate an approximate amount of money called an estimated personal budget<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This estimated personal budget is to help you plan. Once you have identified the actual costs of your care this will become your actual personal budget, and clearly identify the amount you will receive as a direct payment. If you receive other services these will be shown separately, for example, because you attend a day centre that we pay direct.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Jo\u2019s social worker has agreed that Jo needs help to get ready for work and prepare meals. Jo has asked for a direct payment to recruit a personal assistant and the social worker has agreed an estimated budget of \u00a3135 per week. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jo finds that the money is not enough to attract any applicants and Jo asks the social worker for more money. The social worker knows that it is hard to find a personal assistant where Jo lives and authorises an additional \u00a320 per week. This total \u00a3155 per week becomes Jo\u2019s actual budget.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

A financial assessment<\/a> will tell you how much you must pay us \u2013 we call this a contribution. This contribution must be paid from your own private bank account, you can\u2019t use your direct payment to pay your contribution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Jo\u2019s actual budget of \u00a3155 per week is the amount used to calculate Jo\u2019s contribution, which Jo pays from their personal funds.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

What can I use a direct payment for?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A direct payment is intended to give you flexibility and control to meet your own care needs. You may want to do things differently from the way a care agency provides a service, however, it\u2019s important that you only use a direct payment to meet the outcomes as described as eligible for support from us in your assessment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Jo wants support to go to a leisure centre once a week, however the assessment says that the money should be used to get ready for work and prepare meals. So the money can\u2019t be used for this purpose.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re unsure if your own plans would be considered by us as an appropriate and cost-effective way to meet your needs, we would recommend you talk things through with one of our social care assessors. We will give you the contact details of who to talk to about your own personal needs and plans in your assessment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you are interested in having direct payments<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Our Arranging Support Team can talk to you about your options and can provide support, suggestions and signposting for many aspects of your direct payment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why not use our Self-directed support and direct payments \u2013 detailed information for service users<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can get further support and information from Adult Social Care by calling 0345 1551 007<\/a> or by emailing:<\/p>\n\n\n\n