Paying for adult social care

Depending on the outcome of your care and support assessment and financial assessment, you may be allocated a personal budget to pay for, or to help towards, your care and support. 

If you are given a personal budget, you will be offered a Direct Payment. This is not a benefit, it is an agreed amount of money paid directly to you so that you can arrange and pay for the care and support outlined in your support plan.

Direct Payments give you more flexibility and control, allowing you to choose services that suit your needs and lifestyle. Many people find this helps them stay independent and make decisions about their own care.

Charges for services purchased with Direct Payments are the same as those arranged by us.

If Direct Payments are not suitable for you, we will use your personal budget to arrange care and support services on your behalf.

How the Direct Payment is paid

We are working with Kingston Centre for Independent Living (KCIL)  to deliver the new Direct Payment Support Service.  The KCIL team will be in touch with people who have existing Direct Payments by phone or email. 

• the KCIL phone number is 0208 546 9603
• you can find out more about the new Croydon Direct Payment Support Service on the KCIL website

Our Direct Payments are available via the banking system Monika, with support available from Kingston Centre for Independent Living (KCIL). 

Where Monika is used, the financial management of the Direct Payment can be done by KCIL on behalf of the resident if required. This only refers to the financial administration of the Direct Payment, for example, payment of wages, invoices or running payroll. It does not remove responsibility from the resident or their nominee in terms of arranging care and support or any associated employment responsibilities.

KCIL will have a conversation with the resident and their nominee about the most appropriate way of managing the Direct Payment at time of setup.

KCIL will support you with:

• recruiting and supporting Personal Assistants (PAs),  including interviews, checks, training, and guidance
• linking you to local services and micro-enterprises to give you more care options
• helping you use your Direct Payments to meet your care and support needs

Managed Accounts

• if you use a Managed Account, your payments will still come from the council
• KCIL will manage the funds securely using the Zempler platform and make payments on your behalf
• KCIL will contact you to explain how to access and use Zempler.  If you have not had a call or an email from KCIL please call them on 0208 546 9603 as soon as possible

Self-Managed Accounts

Direct Payments can only be made via nominated accounts, for example, a separate high street bank account, by exception. This needs to be agreed by the appropriate Head of Service.

Important information

All local authorities have a responsibility to protect the public funds it manages. To do this, we:

• use the information and records you provide, along with any we request
• review how your Direct Payment is being spent to ensure it meets the care and support needs identified in your assessment
• may ask you to repay part or all the money or take legal action, including prosecution, if it is not used in line with your support plan
• may use your information to help prevent and detect fraud
• may share your information with law enforcement agencies and other organisations responsible for auditing or managing public funds

Eligibility

Direct Payments can be made to anyone who is entitled to community care services, including:

• disabled people aged 16 or over
• older people
• people with learning disabilities
• users of mental health services
• carers aged 16 or over who are eligible for carers' services
• disabled parents
• people with parental responsibility for disabled children under 16
   

What Direct Payments can be used for

Direct Payments can be used to buy services such as:

• personal care, for example, help getting up, washing and dressing
• practical tasks, for example, preparing meals, shopping and housework
• help getting out and about, going to work, visiting a friend or relative, going to leisure activities
• if you are a disabled parent, help to look after your child
• if you are a carer, help to look after the person you care for or to give you a break from caring
• occupational therapy equipment

What Direct Payments cannot be used for

You cannot use Direct Payments for:

• unlawful activity
• gambling
• subsistence, such as food and drink
• accommodation costs
• permanent residential care. If indicated in your care plan they can be used for non-residential additional day activities
• services provided by a close family member who lives with you, including your spouse, civil partner, unmarried partner, or a close relative,for example parent, parent-in-law, aunt uncle, grandparent, son, daughter, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, step son or daughter, brother or sister
• respite exceeding 4 consecutive weeks in any 12 month period
• services provided directly by the council or NHS

Your responsibilities

If you decide to receive Direct Payments, you'll be responsible for arranging the services outlined in your support plan. If you choose to employ someone directly to assist you, you'll have specific responsibilities as an employer, but you'll be offered advice and support to help you fulfil these legal obligations.

If you use a care agency to provide all the services you require, you'll be offered advice about choosing a suitable agency. You will not have to employ your own staff.

If you take up Direct Payments, you, or someone acting on your behalf, must:

• be willing and able to direct your care or support services
• keep simple records to show how the money is spent

Help with managing Direct Payments

We can help you manage your Direct Payments to secure the services and the support you want the direct payments to provide. You can discuss your ideas for how you want to spend your direct payments with your social worker.

Help from family carers and friends

People can use their friends, families or carers to help them manage their Direct Payments. We can also help you organise this. If your direct payment is managed by a friend or relative, they cannot be your paid carer or receive payment from the Direct Payment account.

Direct Payments user group

The Direct Payments user group is a useful resource for advice and information for all current and prospective users of the Direct Payments scheme. Group members can provide mutual support and advice from a user's point of view. If you become a Direct Payment user we will send you details of how to join this group.