Who can and cannot get a Direct Payment
Who can and cannot get Direct Payments
You may be able to get a Direct Payment if you are aged 16 years or over and you:
- Are an older person assessed as needing community care services
- Are a disabled person with for example a physical disability, sensory disability, learning disability, mental illness, HIV/AIDS etc
- Have parental responsibility for a disabled child
- Are a disabled parent needing help to look after your child
- Are a carer for a disabled person
- And in residential care wishing to try out living independently in the community
There are only very limited circumstances when direct payments could not be offered. A small number of people, who are subject to legislation which limits their freedom to arrange their own care, are excluded from receiving direct payments. This includes people subject to the conditions of some sections of the Mental Health Act 1983. Your local social services or care co-ordinator will be able to tell you if you are excluded form receiving direct payments and will explain why.
Although many groups of people may be eligible to get direct payments this site and the information that follows concentrates on people with a mental illness and their carers.
The majority of people using mental health services have a right to receive direct payments, if they wish to, to meet social care needs which have been identified. A direct payment can also replace services which are already in place. For example a person may prefer to employ a personal assistant to help support them rather than attend a day centre.
Whilst most people who are assessed as needing social care services have a right to direct payments, no-one should feel pressured to have direct payments if they prefer for services to be arranged by their care co-ordinator .
