Direct Payments

People who are eligible to receive social care services from Lancashire County Council can instead choose to receive Direct Payments to buy their own care; these people include Older people, disabled adults (including people with physical disabilities, sensory impairments, learning disabilities, and mental health problems), parents of disabled children and carers.

Many people wish to use Direct Payments because it can provide greater flexibility and choice, and can enable people to employ their own carer, or buy care services directly from a care agency.

Lancashire Centre for Independent Living help people set up their Direct Payments. They can help people decide if Direct Payments is the right choice for them. They can also give advice about employing people and buying care from an agency, and help people set this up.

As part of our service we have a team of Independent Living Advisors working throughout the county, providing information and advice for disabled people receiving Direct Payments/Personal Budgets. Direct Payments provide discretionary cash payments directly to disabled people, older people, carers and parents of disabled children so they can purchase care from an agency or pay the wages of a privately employed Personal Assistant (PA). This support enables disabled people to choose to live independently within the community.

Awards are made in the form of regular four-weekly payments to individuals, which are used to buy personal care and domestic assistance. Recipients may use care agencies or employ personal assistants, but may not employ relatives who live in the same house. Our advisors will provide support throughout the process, including recruitment, management, training and payroll setup.

The Direct Payments Network provides an on-going support service once everything is set up. They can be contacted on 0845 603 9760 or by email at direct.payments@lancashire.gov.uk