Rather than receive Council services , Edinburgh council can pay a direct payment to you for an equivalent amount. You can then organise your own care and support in a way that suits you. Contact Social Care Direct, or speak to your key worker, if you would like a direct payment.

It means you have more control over who supports you and how that support is provided.

The direct payment can be used:

• for care at home
• instead of a day service or day centre
• for respite or short breaks
• to buy equipment to help you.

You can use a direct payment for all of your support needs, or just some of them and the rest the Council will arrange for you. You can only use the direct payment money to do the things in your care plan. You can choose a care agency or employ your own Personal Assistants (PAs).

For further information on direct payments, contact Edinburgh council on fundingindependentliving@edinburgh.gov.uk or 0131 469 3334.

Edinburgh council will help you to complete an assessment of your support needs. Then they will agree a care plan with you.  This sets out what you can spend the direct payment money on.

You also have to complete a financial assessment, Edinburgh council uses this to decide if you should pay towards your own care and how much.

It should take around 8 to 9 weeks to set up the direct payment after you have agreed your care plan.

When Edinburgh council conducts the assessment, they will also make sure you are able to manage your direct payment. You must be able to understand and manage the direct payment, with support if necessary. A guardian, attorney or someone acting on your behalf can manage the direct payment for you.

The amount of your direct payment depends on your assessment and care plan.

Care at home is paid as an hourly rate. You may have to top up the direct payment with your own money if you choose an agency with a higher hourly rate.

The rate you receive for a personal assistant depends on the job they will be doing. Edinburgh Council will discuss this with you and ensure you receive support to employ a personal assistant (PA) if this is the option you choose. You cannot usually employ any relatives to provide your care. Edinburgh Council does not recommend using self-employed PAs.

Edinburgh Council pays day service direct payments based on the number of days per week and respite direct payments by a specified number of nights per year.

Your direct payment is paid every four weeks.

All care at home and some respite direct payments are financially assessed. Edinburgh Council will deduct your contribution before paying you the net amount.

Edinburgh Council usually pays your direct payment (DP) into a special bank account called the allpay card account. It is a MasterCard account, and there are no cheques or cash payments.

Edinburgh Council helps you complete the paperwork to set up the allpay card account. Edinburgh Council will request that allpay sends the card to you with instructions on how to activate it.

Edinburgh Council can reclaim any money you do not use and will discuss with you any issues you may have in using the funds.

You must:

• Comply with all tax responsibilities and employment law if you are employing a personal assistant (PA).
• Keep records of how you spend the DP funds.

Purple DPSS offers services that can support you with this.

Edinburgh Council will review how the DP is working for you approximately six weeks after you first receive it.

If you have any questions about your allpay card account or your payments, contact Edinburgh Council at:

• Phone: 0131 469 3334
• Email: fundingindependentliving@edinburgh.gov.uk

Edinburgh Council can answer your calls Monday to Thursday from 9 am to 4 pm and Friday from 9 am to 2 pm.

Arrange your Support

You can choose who works for you by employing a PA. You have legal responsibilities as an employer.

Before deciding to employ your own PA, it is important to understand your responsibilities. Purple DPSS can provide you with information and advice to help you decide. They can:

• Provide payroll services
• Assist with legal requirements
• Advise on staffing issues and on being a good employer