Time to Get Equal: Direct payments
What are Direct Payments?
Direct Payments mean that instead of social care services from your local authority, you get the equivalent amount of money and buy in your own support package. For example, many people use this to employ a personal assistant, meaning they have control over everything from the interview process to the hours worked.
Anyone who is receiving help from social services, or who has been assessed as needing it, is entitled to Direct Payments. This includes parents of a disabled child or young person up to 18 years old, and disabled young people aged 16 or 17 who can receive direct payments in their own right.
The Department for Education and Skills has funded a project to increase awareness of direct payments among young people aged 16-17 and parents of disabled children. We have produced two information packs in consultation with those already using direct payments, and are working with a range of organisations and groups around the country to reach parents and young people.
Information packs
Download My money, my way. A young person's guide to direct payments (pdf, 1.3Mb)
Download My money, my way. A young person's guide to direct payments: easy read summary (pdf, 690k)
Download In the driving seat: direct payments for your child (pdf, 200k)
Download In the driving seat: direct payments for your child: easy read summary (pdf, 900k)
Audio cd available from 020 7619 7342 or publications@scope.org.uk, easy words and pictures version available soon.
Useful local contact details for information packs (pdfs)
All pdfs under 50k.
Central and East | London | Midlands | North East | North West | South East | South West
Research reports
Download Direct Payments in Action: Implementation by Social Services Departments in England (pdf, 80k)
Download a summary of The Direct Approach: disabled people's experience of direct payments (pdf, 600k) or you can order a full copy from 020 7619 7342 or publications@scope.org.uk .