Direct payments agreements
5.1 When a direct payment is agreed, the person who is going to manage the direct payment must enter into a written agreement with the council.
5.2 The council will provide a copy of the signed agreement to signatories.
Payment Card accounts
5.3 The council will set up a payment card account for the person responsible for managing direct payments.
5.4 Other options may be available to enable the adult to have a direct payment if the adult/nominated person/authorised person as relevant is unable to manage a payment card account. For example in some circumstances, the council may make direct payments conditional on having a managed account.
5.5 Means tested charges apply in almost all cases where the council is meeting an adult’s needs for care and support under the Care Act. Where a charge applies, we will ask the adult to have a financial assessment (a means test). This determines the amount they must pay towards the full cost of their care and support.
5.6 Where the financial assessment determines that the adult must pay some or all of the cost of their care and support:
- the adult must pay the assessed amount into the payment card account at no less than four (4) weekly intervals
- the council will then add its contribution where relevant. Any contribution from the council starts once any relevant assessed amount has been fully used. Excess funds which accumulate in the account remain the property of the council
5.7 The council will pay the full amount agreed in the plan into the payment card account each month for:
- S117 after-care arrangements/carer support. Charges do not apply to after - care arrangements or to support directly provided to carers. Where an adult has consented to receive services in order to meet/reduce their carer’s needs, charging and financial assessment will apply to the adult
- any adult assessed as not having to contribute towards the full cost of their care and support
5.8 The council:
- will pay its share of the cost of meeting needs/providing after-care services as agreed in the plan into the payment card account in advance at 4 weekly intervals
- may make an initial or one off payment to the account, for example for agreed set up costs from within the agreed amount
5.9 The person responsible for managing direct payments uses the funds in the payment card account to arrange the care/after-care agreed in the plan and must meet all costs within the amount agreed.
