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| 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).
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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.
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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
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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.
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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. |
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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: |
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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
Website: www.godirectsunderland.co.uk
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| 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 |
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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
Contracts of employment
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. |
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