Age Concern Sunderland

Age Concern Sunderland Age Concern Sunderland

What are Direct Payments?

Direct Payments are cash payments made to an individual to allow them to arrange and purchase the care and support they have been assessed as needing by a local authority's Adult or Children's Services (formerly known as Social Services).

They provide people with the opportunity to take more control over the decisions that affect their lives, and the flexibility to receive services which really suit their individual needs and lifestyle, often allowing people to live much more independently.

Who can receive Direct Payments?
Direct Payments can be offered to:

People with physical, sensory or learning disabilities.
Older people.
People with mental health needs.
People with HIV/AIDS.
Carers aged 16 years and over.
Parents of disabled children.
Young disabled people aged 16 and 17 years.

You can receive Direct Payments as long as:

You have been assessed as needing services.
You are willing to receive Direct Payments.
You can consent to receiving Direct Payments and can manage them with or without assistance.
If for a disabled child, the child is living at home.

What can I use Direct Payments for?
You can use Direct Payments to purchase support to meet your assessed social care needs including:

Home support.
Day Services.
Short Breaks.
Equipment.
Leisure Link and leisure activities (for disabled children) or a combination of these services.

People use Direct Payments in many different ways depending on their own circumstances and personal preferences. Two of the most common ways of using Direct Payments are contracting directly with a care agency or directly employing someone (a Personal Assistant) to provide the support and care required.

What can I not use Direct Payments for?
You cannot use Direct Payments to purchase any of the following:

Services from a Local Authority.
Health Care Services.
Housing.
Permanent residential or nursing care.

What if I already receive services from Adult or Children's Services?
You can still receive Direct Payments if you are already receiving services from Adult or Children's Services by transferring some or all of your care and support to Direct Payments.You can receive a mixture of both Direct Payments and services arranged directly by Adult or Children's Services.

Will Direct Payments affect my Social Security benefits?
No. Direct Payments will not be taken into account when calculating your entitlement to means-tested Social Security benefits.

Will I have to pay anything towards Direct Payments?
If the Direct Payment relates to an adult, Adult Services will assess the contribution you are required to pay towards the cost of the services you receive. This contribution would be the same whether you choose to receive Direct Payments or services arranged directly by Adult Services.

If the Direct Payment relates to a child you will not at present be asked to contribute towards the cost of the care package.
Young people aged 16 and 17 years will be expected to make a small, fixed financial contribution towards the cost of overnight short breaks.

How much money will I receive?
The amount of money you receive will depend on the services you have been assessed as needing. The Direct Payments rates are reviewed annually. If you wish you may use your own money to top up Direct Payments in order to purchase more expensive services.

How can I find out more about Direct Payments?
If you would like more information about Direct Payments or wish to ask any question you can contact Go Direct using the details given below:

Go Direct
Direct Payments Support Service
c/o Age Concern Sunderland
Bradbury Centre
Stockton Road
Sunderland
SR2 7AQ

Telephone number: (0191) 514 1131
Fax number: (0191) 567 0378
E-mail:directpayments@acsunderland.org.uk

Alternatively you can contact the Direct Payments Section at Sunderland Adult Services using the details given below:

Direct Payments Section
Adult Services
The Independent Living at
Claymere Road
Leechmere Industrial Estate
Sunderland
SR2 9TF

Telephone number: (0191) 566 1825
Fax number: (0191) 533 7208
E-mail:dp@ssd.sunderland.gov.uk

Advice, Information and Practical Support - How Go Direct can help.
Go Direct can offer advice, information and practical support on all aspects of Direct Payments including:

Helping you to understand Direct Payments.
Supporting you through the process of Direct Payments.

Assisting you to recruit Personal Assistants including:

Job Descriptions.
Advertising for staff.
Interviews.
Health and Safety.
Supporting you to manage your staff and deal with any issues.

Payroll Service - How Go Direct can help.
Go Direct offers a free Payroll Service to people who use Direct Payments to employ Personal Assistants. This includes:

Registering you as an employer with the Inland Revenue.
Setting up and operating a payroll system for your employees, on your behalf.
Producing weekly or monthly pay slips for your employees.
Keeping records of holiday and sick pay, etc..
Maintaining all relevant records with the Inland Revenue Providing advice and support on issues such as rates of pay, etc..

Peer Support - How Go Direct can help.
Go Direct offers peer support to people who receive, or are considering receiving, Direct Payments. The peer support is offered by a team of people who are current users of Direct Payments and their carers. They can:

Share their experience of the Direct Payments process.
Address any queries or concerns you may have.
Support you through the Direct Payments process.
Speak to you on a one-to-one basis.
Attend meetings etc. to speak on a group basis.

Peer Support is also available via the Direct Payments User Group. This group meets bi-monthly and offers an opportunity to:

Meet other users of Direct Payments and their carers.
Shape the future of Direct Payments in Sunderland by allowing you to share your views and opinions of Direct Payments and the support available Join in social activities with other members of the group.

Publicity and Training - How Go Direct can help.
Go Direct can provide and source information and training on all aspects of Direct Payments, for a wide range of people including:

Direct Payments users.
Potential users of Direct Payments.
Personal Assistants.
Local Authority staff.
Other professionals.

Information and training can be provided on a one-to-one basis or at meetings, surgeries, etc. Go Direct can also arrange and facilitate, in conjunction with partner agencies, Direct Payments open days or roadshows, with information provided not only about Direct Payments but on a range of related issues.

Age Concern Sunderland Age Concern Sunderland

Web Master Alec Redpath