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Direct payment is a cash payment to allow you to buy your own support instead of Social Services providing it for you.

Following your Community Care Assessment, or reassessment, you can now choose whether to have services provided directly by Social Services, or have a direct payment.

You can use the money to employ a personal assistant or you can use an agency to provide staff for you. You can 'mix and match' and have some of your support provided by Social Services and take some as a direct payment.

You can't use the money to employ a close relative or person living in your home. You must use the money to meet your assessed needs.

You will need to open a separate bank account to have the money paid into, and send in monthly bank statements from this account.

The Direct Payment Support Service (Knowsley Disability Concern) will give you all the help you need to operate direct payments.

Direct payments are not means tested benefit and will not affect your Social Security benefits. They are not taxable.

The vast majority of people getting social services from the council have a right to direct payments. They are:

• Older people who have been assessed as needing community care servcies
• Disabled people aged 16 and over, including those with short and long term needs
• Carers, in place of receiving carers’ services
• Families with disabled children for children’s services
• Disabled parents for children’s services

For further information on Direct Payments you can either contact the Direct Payment Support Service directly, or alternatively speak to a Knowsley Council officer. Both contact details can be found below.

You can also complete the online application form below.

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