Factsheet
2: Eligibility
You may be eligible for the Direct
Payments Scheme if you :-
·
are a person of
any age assessed as needing or are receiving a
community care service
·
would prefer to take more control of your life and live with greater
independence and
have :-
- a physical
disability or sensory impairment
- a learning difficulty
or
- a mental health condition
or
- HIV/Related
Illness
· have parental responsibility for a
disabled child or you are a young adult aged 16 or 17
· provide substantial and regular care
to a disabled person and are over 16 years of age
You can now have more choice about your own care
arrangements. Your Local Authority can provide the money to pay for your care
support in your preferred form, rather than having to rely on the local
authority ‘home help’ service or on an
agency sent in by Social Services. Your needs
will be assessed by your Local Authority, who will decide how much money you
need.
You can choose to recruit your own personal assistants
(PA’s), use the services of a care agency or a combination of the two. By receiving regular direct payments from
your Local Authority and, if you decide to recruit your own PA’s, you will become an employer, and will be
expected to manage payments and comply with employment legislation.
An Independent Living Adviser can assist you in deciding how to manage
your care needs or discuss any queries you have.