What you can buy with a direct payment

You can only use your direct payment to pay for things that meet the outcomes in your support plan. Your support plan will be put together following a Care Act needs assessment where it has been identified you have eligible needs. 

Your direct payment can cover things such as:

• employing a personal assistant to support you in your home and/or in the community
• paying for different activities in your area
• transport costs – over and above what is covered by mobility benefits
• buying equipment that is not available through our equipment service
• subscriptions to services
• paying a care agency
• almost anything that will help you meet your outcomes

You cannot use a direct payment for:

• food, clothing or other general living expenses
• goods or services that are not part of the agreed care needs and outcomes in your support plan
• healthcare services
• paying to live in a care home - apart from agreed respite stays
• anything that is against the law

You can choose to buy a service that costs more than your personal budget and then pay the difference yourself.

If you are unsure about something you want to buy, you can check with us first.

Employing a personal assistant (PA)

Find out about personal assistants.

Accessing activities

Search for day activities in our Community Directory on the Help and Kindness website.

Using an agency

You can choose to use your direct payment to pay for support from a care at home agency. If this is an agency we already use, it may be simpler for you to ask us to commission your care. If you use an agency that we do not directly commission then you will need to satisfy yourself that the agency are reputable and provide a good standard of service.

If you want to use your direct payment to pay an agency, find services in your area using the Care Choices website.

If you have personal care needs, you need to check the agency is registered with the Care Quality Commission.