Useful Information about Direct Payments
What is a Direct Payment?
Direct Payments are funds provided directly to you by your local authority through a managed account. Instead of the authority arranging care services, you can choose and pay for the support that best suits your needs.
Why Choose Direct Payments?
- More Control: You decide who supports you.
- Personalised Care: Recruit someone who understands your needs and preferences.
Who can receive Direct Payments?
If a Social Worker has assessed your needs, and a Care Plan has been identified, then you could be eligible to receive Direct Payments.
If one of the groups below is suitable to your situation, you could be eligible:
- A parent or individual with parental responsibility over a disabled child.
- A disabled individual with parental responsibilities.
- A young person over 16 years old who is disabled.
- A person between 18 and 64 years old who receives a care in the community service.
- A person over 16 years of age who provides regular and significant care for an adult.
- A person from 65 years of age who receives care in the community service.
- An individual with a long-term illness.
What can I use Direct Payments for?
Everyone's needs are different, and there is not an exhaustive list; but the funds must be spent on achieving the aims identified in your Care Plan
Examples of how you can use Direct Payments:
- Employing a Personal Assistant (PA)
- Purchasing a service from an agency
- Assistance with identified personal care needs
- Short breaks or temporary care
- Respite care
- Community activities
- Keeping fit and healthy
- Support you to find work
- Interests and hobbies
- Purchase equipment which may support you to be more independent
- Transport and travel costs (if noted in your Care Plan)
- Long-term residential care
What you cannot use Direct Payments for
Examples where you may NOT use Direct Payments:
- Health Care that should be funded by the NHS, such as registered nursing care
- Pay for anything that is not agreed as part of the outcomes in your care and support plan
- Anything illegal
- Gambling
- General costs of living, e.g., bills or rent
- Debts
How much will the payments be?
This depends on what support you need. When your needs have been assessed, we will know what level of support you need. The amount of money you will get will be then agreed and be included in your personal plan.
All Direct Payments are made net of any contribution from you as determined by the Social Services Charging Policy. You can request a copy of the Social Services Charging Policy by contacting the Powys County Council's Income and Awards department.
Will I have to pay for Direct Payments?
Your financial circumstances will be assessed to see if you will have to pay towards your care needs. This is the same as for other social care services.
You have the right to refuse a financial assessment. If this is the case, then we will ask you to meet the maximum contribution.
What support is available?
Powys County Council has developed an in-house Information, Advice and Support service (IAS). The purpose of the service is to work alongside suitable persons and people who receive direct payments to help them develop skills, knowledge, and confidence to manage their direct payments and where relevant their employer responsibilities effectively. We want to enable people to get the best possible outcomes from their direct payment.
With the appropriate and relevant information people who receive a direct payment will be able to manage their responsibilities with very little involvement from the support service, some may require a small amount of support or time limited support, and some people will need ongoing support and reassurance. This is an individual choice.
We will make sure that the support we provide you is proportionate to your needs and abilities but will always encourage and support you to be as self-managing as appropriate.
The Direct Payments Process
Conversations and Agreement
If you feel you need support with your care, you can call Assist. They will have a friendly chat with you and, if needed, take the necessary steps to allocate a social worker to you.
ASSIST - 0345 60 27050
Email - assist@powys.gov.uk
A social worker will visit you to assess your needs to determine the support hours required.
During the initial conversation with your social worker can assist you in determining whether your care needs are routine or occasional. This will then inform you of which routes you can choose whether this is becoming an employer, using a micro-enterprise, or arranging care through an agency. Each option has its own benefits and level of involvement, allowing you and your social worker to select the best fit for your needs.
You'll also decide who will manage the direct payment. If a Suitable Person is to be appointed, they will require a DBS check.
After the Social Worker visit, the IAS service will contact you to sign an agreement with Powys County Council for receiving and managing Direct Payments (DP2a). This will enable you to start receiving funds.
A financial assessment will determine if you need to contribute towards your care costs. Finally, your social worker will submit an application to the Care Practice Forum for approval of your direct payment.
Setting Up Your Virtual Wallet and Loading Your Care Provider
PPL-Virtual Wallet will contact you via email to set up your account. This website allows you to see your Direct Payment balance and authorise payments to your PA or agency.
If necessary, you will complete a Direct Debit Mandate to ensure your contributions are deposited into your Virtual Wallet.
For sourcing a care provider, you have several options, so it's important to understand the difference between routine and infrequent care.
Routine care involves regular, ongoing support, which can be managed by:
- becoming an employer,
- using a micro-enterprise that employs carers,
- arranging care through an agency.
On the other hand, infrequent or specific care is more flexible and tailored to occasional or specialised services. This type of care can be arranged through:
- a micro-enterprise of self-employed persons,
- a micro-enterprise that employs carers,
- an agency.
By understanding these distinctions, you can choose the best option to suit your lifestyle and care needs.
It's important to remember that if you choose a micro-enterprise or an agency, you may incur additional costs, which you will need to cover personally, if they exceed the Powys County Council's agreed rate. Keep in mind, the more expensive option isn't always the best one for you.
The Information, Advice and Support service (IAS) will assist you throughout the process, providing guidance and ensuring you have access to necessary resources such as detailed guides, contract templates and access to Powys PA Web.
Paying Your Provider
Once your care and support begin, your provider will need to access the Virtual Wallet to request payment. You must log in and approve these requests. Virtual Wallet will provide you with a schedule of important dates for accessing the system to approve payments.
The IAS cannot approve payments for you, so you will need to log into your account. You can seek assistance from a trusted person, known as a nominee. The IAS will offer guidance for the first three months, covering your initial payments.
How can I find out more?
If you would like further advice and guidance, please see the contact details below:
Information, Advice and Support service (IAS)
Virtual Wallet Support Team
for any user of the system requiring support
Virtual Wallet Payroll Team
for any employer or PA
Visit www.myvirtualwallet.co.uk/Powys to see a short video about Virtual Wallet and find out more information.
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