Empowering your Healthcare Choices: The benefits of Direct Payments

Your local council arranges care if you are disabled or need support. If unsure, you can request an assessment that reveals a detailed support plan. Initially, the local council decides on a personal budget. This is the money the local council perceives as the cost of your care.

The council manages the budget for you. However, you, as a client, can supervise too. If you pick the latter option, the fund has now taken the shape of direct payments. 

Direct payments set up

If the applicant chooses direct payment services, the local authority sends the budget in two ways.

1. Conveying a pre-paid card with the budget installed therein.

2. Money is paid directly to the bank, local post office, federal building, national savings, or an investment account. 

After the applicant receives the money through direct payment services, they can spend it however they like as long as it corresponds to their personal budget.

What is a direct payments agreement?

When an applicant chooses direct payments in healthcare, the local council has them sign a document. The legal piece of paper mentions:

• The way council requests the client to keep proof of spending such as receipts, bank payments, or cash transactions

• The carer's responsibilities if you are a health assistant managing the direct payments for a client.

The local authority stops the direct payments if the applicant does not spend the money as advised. Moreover, they may seek a refund for all the direct payments in healthcare made before. 

Who is eligible for direct payments in healthcare?

Many individuals receive direct payments in healthcare with help from their local authority. The applicants choose to receive cash so they can manage their care better. However, when it comes to attaining direct payment services, the local authority looks for the following:

• The applicant has needs that can only be satisfied with direct payments. In other words, their circumstances do not need other care packages.

• The direct payments are paid to the applicant who can manage their finances. They either do it by themselves or seek help. 

• The applicant agrees to direct payments associated with care packages. In addition, a proxy can also agree on their behalf.

Who receives direct payments?

Direct payments in healthcare apply to everyone who is not excluded from the list below. You can apply for direct payment services if you meet one of the requirements.

• The application is more than 15 years old, or they are part of community service.

• The applicant has parental obligations for a disabled child under 16 years old. The child is eligible for direct payments for personalised care.

• The applicant is an authority figure at the age of 16 or above. The local authority assessment has granted the applicant the carer's allowance.

• The applicant accepts and receives healthcare as an agent to the client. They supervise direct payments in healthcare because the client lacks mental capacity or does not have the age of consent.

At times, a disabled child who is 16 or 17 years old may argue that their parents cannot receive direct health care payments. If this is the case, the applicant must contact the local authority immediately.

The local authority decides if the applicant has the skills and maturity to manage finances with direct payment services. If the local authority is satisfied with the complaint, direct payment is made to the applicant. Now, the young person receives direct payments in health care.

Moreover, a young person can make a formal hearing with the local authority if direct payments are made to the carer/guardian/parents. The local authority is responsible for arranging representation or advocacy for the young client. 

Where can the client spend direct payments?

The applicant can utilize direct payments in healthcare however they please as long as it aligns with the pre-decided outcomes. One of the benefits of direct payments in healthcare is that it allows the individual to make choices. You can spend direct payments on support staff or equipment that improves your health. However, you cannot spend direct payments in healthcare on services that the NHS guarantees to provide. Continue reading to discover the elements you spend direct payments on

1. Additional support and care to live independently at your home

2. Hiring a healthcare assistant to perform activities the applicant cannot

3. Spend on transportation for an easy commute

4. Supplementary income for job or college

5. Leisure activities that promote health

The applicant cannot receive direct payment services for a family member or a relative if they do not live with them. It is up to the local authority to decide who receives the direct payments. Therefore, the applicant must contact the council immediately to streamline payments if facing difficulty. The council proposes a procedure to ensure you are heard.

Here are a few circumstances that are incompatible with direct payments in the UK

• Healthcare treatments covered by insurance and NHS

• Payment for household expenses such as electricity and gas bills

• Gambling

• Illegal activities

• Long-term care or home renovation

Benefits of direct payments in healthcare

Flexibility

When seeking direct payments, UK clients inquire about the advantages. For example, direct payments in healthcare offer more flexibility. The individual can personalise care. Furthermore, the support is more personal. In addition, direct payments can also lead to a more independent lifestyle, motivating the individual to move forward in their life.

Become an employer

Secondly, managing finances with direct payment services means the applicant can hire bespoke carers and assistants, such as

• The healthcare assistant is the same individual and can be hired whenever needed.

• The carer speaks the same language as the client

• The carer has sufficient experience in the client's needs

• The healthcare assistant is recommended because of their personality, experience, or way of working.

• The carer can help you run errands, shop, or attend events. 

Versatility

Direct payment for personalised care can be made in many ways. It is up to the applicant to decide how they spend the personal budget. However, they must not utilize the budget falsely. A local council asks for proof of the spending once every three months to ensure compliance.

Direct payment services for someone else

The applicant can speak to the local authority about agreeing to send direct payments to someone else. The agent/authority figure spends it on you. These are:

1. A carer

2. A family member, friend, or a loved one

3. An agent, advocate, or proxy

To proceed, the applicant provides proof in writing about where they spend the money. Moreover, they also mention which decision the carer can make. The details are part of the decision-making contract, which the council signs and attests to.

When you hire someone to care for you, the applicant becomes an employer. Therefore, they must be aware of their responsibilities to prevent legal complications. Even though the local authority offers assistance, you must gather the following:

• Background checks for the carer

• The references or previous client credentials

• Tax details

• National insurance ID

• Contributions to pension

Direct payments in healthcare for applicants who do not wish to hire

The strategy relieves you of many legal obligations if you do not want to hire workers through an agency. However, the client might

• Need to spend more money on care services

• Not experiencing other benefits of direct payments in healthcare, such as consistent care.

How to find the best care agency?

The applicant must match the tasks with their healthcare services when looking for an agency. Furthermore, the client is encouraged to contact more than one agency to learn more about the different levels of client satisfaction. You can find out more about the caregiver's services before spending the direct payments by:

• You can talk to the local authority about challenges and difficulties. They forward the request to their service demand.

• Secondly, contact the UK Homecare Association.

Thirdly, impartial organisations also assess the performance of many agencies that operate through direct payments in healthcare. One of them is the Care Quality Commission, a public-funded and government-led organisation that ensures excellent healthcare needs for adults in England.

The Care Quality Commission assesses the organisations based on the following four ratings.

• Inadequacy

• Room for improvement/suggestions

• Good 

• Excellent/outstanding

Voice your opinion for direct payment services

The local authority hears your concerns about direct payments in healthcare. However, the applicant can formally complain after all channels are exhausted.

The applicant can complain if

• The authority has ruled that they are not eligible for direct payments in healthcare.

• You do not agree with the amount of money allocated for direct payments in a personal budget.

Subsequently, you can

• Make an appointment with a social worker who reassesses the circumstances

• Ring the local council services to ask for a complaint form

Furthermore, if the client is displeased with the local authority's response, they can contact the local government ombudsman. The organisation investigates the allegations in thorough detail. Extensive information on registering a complaint is available here.

What is best for you?

Direct payments in healthcare give you more freedom and flexibility. If the applicant is confident and understands the benefits of direct payments in healthcare, then it is the right choice for you. Contact Us Today for assistance on direct payments today.