If your direct payments are not enough to pay for help you need

Remind the local authority that your direct payments must by law be enough to meet your assessed needs. These include all the practicalities and extra costs around employing staff. Your social worker must be able to explain how the amount you are offered can do this. Explain what will happen if you don’t get the help you need.

Remember to include all aspects of your well-being and what you need to live an independent life. It’s not just the basics of eating and personal care.

• Will your budget affect your ability to work, get an education, or take part in family life?
• Is it enough to pay the hourly rate you need to pay to get the right quality of staff, after allowing for costs such as tax, national insurance, holiday, sickness, maternity leave and criminal records checks?
• Does it take account of potential employment issues and staff turnover, including recruitment, training and management?
• Do you need extra money in your budget to pay someone to help you plan and manage your support package?
• Or, do you want the local authority making the arrangements, for example with an agency? This will mean you don’t have to sort everything out yourself. You have the right to choose whether the local authority arranges your support or you get direct payments.

Your social worker may recognise your needs and agree with you about the provision you need. But their assessment may be cut by the local authority Funding Panel.

• Point out that your support cannot be cut without convincing evidence and detailed reasons.
• Ask them to supply their evidence within the next seven days.
• Ask them to keep your current level of support going until they have properly considered your concerns.