Direct payments (adult social care)

Most people who qualify for social care can choose to set up a direct payment. This includes:

• older people
• disabled people over the age of 16
• people with physical and/or sensory disabilities
• people with learning disabilities
• people with mental health issues
• a person with parental responsibility for a disabled child aged under 16 including parents and people with legal parental responsibility and who are not necessarily the child's parents
• carers who are over the age of 16 and have been assessed as needing services to support them in their caring roles and to maintain their own health and wellbeing

A person lacking mental capacity to consent to a direct payment can have a representative to manage it for them.

A direct payment arrangement will give you more say in who provides your care and support and when they deliver it.

You can only buy services that are safe, legal and meet your needs.