Many people don’t realise you can choose direct payments for care instead of having every hour arranged by the council. With this option, the council transfers funds to you, and you decide how to spend them within your agreed plan.
This guide explains what direct payments are, who can get them, and how direct payments work in practice. You’ll learn how to use direct payments to hire care assistants, work with care agencies, or combine options, so you can organise flexible home care or support that fits real life.
Direct payments are cash payments from your local authority or local council that replace some or all of the community care services they would usually arrange. This care funding option covers your care and support needs as set out in your care plan or support plan.
In short, instead of the council commissioning support services on your behalf, you can choose direct payments, receive the funds, and buy services that meet your assessed needs. You must spend the money on agreed services, short stays, equipment, or other support that matches your plan.
Direct payments can also be offered to carers providing home care services. A one-off direct payments carer grant may help with your caring role—for example, a short break to protect your well-being.
You may be eligible if you’ve been assessed by social services as needing social services support (sometimes called eligible care). This includes:
To qualify, you (or someone acting for you) must be able to manage the payments and continue keeping records for the duration of care. If mental capacity is an issue, the council can agree a suitable arrangement so a trusted family member, friend, or organisation manages the payments on your behalf—with your consent.
Tip: Ask your social worker for detailed information on eligibility and the assessment process. If your situation changes, you can request a review.
You receive your personal budget via one of the following:
You then arrange your own care and spend the funds on what’s set out in the plan. You might pay a care worker, employ one or more personal assistants, or contract a care agency. You remain responsible for keeping records (receipts, invoices, timesheets) and following any guidance the council provides.
Most councils ask for evidence every quarter. If spending drifts from the plan, they may ask you to adjust or—if necessary—stop the arrangement. If you’d rather not handle the admin, you can nominate an organisation or family member to manage things, or use a mixed package in which the council arranges part of your support package and you control the rest with direct care payments.
You can use direct payments to buy services and support listed in your plan, such as:
What you cannot usually do:
If you’re unsure, contact your council for advice before you spend.
Direct payments give you choice and control:
For carers, care direct payments (carer grants) can fund driving lessons, gym sessions, or a short break—practical things that help you maintain your caring role.
If you directly employ a care worker or a personal assistant, you take on responsibilities as an employer:
Many councils fund payroll support services within the personal budget, or can point you to an organisation that handles payroll and compliance. If you prefer not to be an employer, you can buy hours from a registered care agency instead.
Before you apply for direct payments, it helps to understand the process clearly. Your local council will guide you through an assessment, agree your personal budget, and explain how you can use the funds. With the right steps, you’ll be able to set up a support package that matches your needs and preferences.
Ask social services for a Care Act assessment (for adults) or a children’s assessment if you have parental responsibility for a disabled child. A social worker will discuss care and support outcomes and your support needs.
The council estimates what your care and support will cost, then confirms your personal budget. You’ll see what they’ll pay and any contribution you may pay.
Choose whether the council manages services, you receive direct payments, or you opt for a mix. You can choose direct payments or a managed service at the start or change your mind later.
Confirm your support plan or care plan. Decide whether to employ staff, use an agency, or book short stays. Make sure roles and schedules are clear.
Log invoices, payslips, and receipts. Councils often provide templates to make records easy.
Your plan will go through a review—especially if your health, work, or family situation changes.
When setting up direct payments, it’s important to understand the costs, benefits, and practical steps involved so everything runs smoothly.
Direct payments for care may not be the best fit if:
You can switch to council-arranged services or a mixed approach at any time. If you disagree with a decision, there’s a formal route to challenge it—ask your council for the correct page of their policy and appeals process.
Care direct payments provide a fantastic opportunity for families to take control and create a truly personalised support package. Direct payments for care allow you to choose who provides the care, when it happens, and what it involves, ensuring your loved one’s support is perfectly matched to their needs and preferences. While the system comes with responsibilities, especially if you become an employer, the benefits of flexibility and consistency can be life-changing.
If you like the sound of this flexibility but feel concerned about the process of hiring staff directly, Tiggo Care can help. You can use direct payments to hire our professional and compassionate care assistants. We handle all the employment responsibilities, so you can focus on what matters most: your loved one.
Contact us today for detailed information and friendly advice on how our support services can help your family.
Once your loved one is assessed as eligible by social services, the local council gives you a personal budget as a cash payment. You can then use this money to arrange and pay for the care and support outlined in their agreed care plan. This gives you direct control over who provides the care and when.
The amount of the direct payment is based on the council's assessment of what it will cost to meet your loved one’s eligible needs. It must be enough to purchase the required support, including covering the costs of being an employer if you hire a care worker directly. This rate is determined by the local authority and varies by area.
Generally, anyone over 16 who has been assessed by the council as having eligible care and support needs can receive direct payments. This includes older people, disabled people, people with parental responsibility for a disabled child, and carers needing support in their caring role. The person must be able to consent to and manage the payments, sometimes with help from other organisations or a family member.
Yes, this is one of the most common ways to use direct payments. You have two main options: you can hire personal assistants directly, which makes you an employer with legal duties, or you can use the funds to hire a professional care worker through a regulated organisation like Tiggo Care. This second option gives you choice and quality assurance without the complexities of employment.
Get in touch with Tiggo Care today to see how we can help you or your loved one.
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