Direct payment rates
The council will review Direct Payments rates on an annual basis prior to the beginning of the financial year (April). For local authorities the financial year runs from April to March of the following year.
The Direct Payment rate will be increased to match the average percentage increase agreed with Adult Social Services contracted home care agencies.
Changes to the Direct Payments rates will be applied to every Direct Payment agreement from 1 April of the next financial year.
The Direct Payment calculation
A Direct Payment is based on the cost of the your assessed needs after your contribution (if applicable) has been deducted. In line with other Adult Social Services provision your contribution towards your Direct Payments will be reassessed on an annual basis.
Start-up payment
A one off payment of £200 will be paid to you, if you employ your own staff, as an initial payment to cover overheads such as advertising costs, insurance etc.
Start-up payments are not paid to Direct Payments recipients who are using agencies to provide services.
On-going overheads, such as statutory sick pay or paid annual leave for personal assistants, are included within the Direct Payments rate and are the responsibility of the direct payments recipient.
Frequency of payments
Direct Payments will be made on a monthly basis in advance during the financial year. Payments will be made to the bank or building society account direct the account you have created solely for the purpose of managing your direct payments.
Your Direct Payments amount may be adjusted to take into account large one-off items of expenditure e.g. respite care, purchase of equipment.
In the event of an emergency, where the normal monthly payment is not sufficient, the recipient must inform their care co-ordinator team (usually the social work team) immediately so that appropriate action may be taken.
Bank Holiday Payments
The direct payments rate includes an amount to enable you to make bank holiday payments equivalent to time and a half. It is then your responsibility to pay the additional bank holiday costs if any.
For more information about Direct payments for carers, please contact the Direct Payments Advisory Service.
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