DWP - anyone else get funding to pay a PA to help with day to day running of business?

[CornishTeaTime]

Ive had it authorised that I can get funding for a few hours a week for a PA to do my admin, bookings, diary plan.

Im a bit confused on the invoicing, do tje DWP pay the PA direct or do I pay and get it reimbursed?

Anyone else do this?

Forgot to say I have a disability so the funding is part of the programme they have in place

So the government are paying somebody to assist you to run your business? That sounds very strange.

Have you got access to work funding? If so I can help as that’s my line of work, feel free to pm me

not strange, it’s probably via access to work grants, which can cover some hours of VAs for certain disabilities.

op it can be both ways, or at least was when I used it, mine was paid directly, but I’ve read of others where you pay them, I’m not sure if it’s a recent change (as mine was a little bit ago) has your email come through with all the details yet? If it isn’t clear youcould email back just to see if they can explain it better.

Have you been awarded Direct Payment funding? You might find this helpful if you have: https://www.carersuk.org/help-and-advice/practical-support/arranging-care-and-support-for-someone/direct-payments/

Yes all set up and yes it's the Acess to Work funding.

Ive found someone whp will basically help book my appointments, run my diary, take payments, the everyday admin/PA tasks. I think I have to submit the number of hours and work undertaken and submit. How long does it take to come through?

Anyone else used the Access to Work?

We have PAs for our disabled children but obviously a different scheme. We get it as a lump sum based on estimated needs and then use a payroll company to sort out eg tax, pension etc. Glad you have got some support which will help you!

You will get an award letter from access to work, this will say how many hours at what rate they have funded. You will be emailed claim forms and a new and amended details form. Your first claim you will need to also send the new and amended details form, after this you will only need to send in the claim form. I find it it helps to send in an official invoice with each claim with payment details and hours/dates also itemised.I would hold off sending in any claims till you have the award letter to make sure the award is in place before hand. If you have an email address while applying for the support you should have a named advisor to contact should there be any issues

Thanks @Dachshund40 yes letter etc. all received everthing in place. The PA is going to invoice me each month number of hours worked, so do I put monthly claim in then pay person once DWP pay me...or just pay tjen when they invoice...which is totally fine but Im not sure how long it takes for DWP to pay once I put monthly claim for hours in.

How long do the usually take?

I have a PA but funded through a local
charity to help me all my day to day admin as I have asd and adhd and so do my dc

@CornishTeaTime there seems to be a back log of payments at the moment, but normally you’d get reimbursed with two weeks. You could arrange so that the p.a gets paid directly if you put their bank details on the new and amended details form, the only issue with this is that payment might not be prompt.
I would be prepared to pay the p.a yourself monthly and then recoup costs from access to work monthly to ensure pa gets paid on time.

Ok thanks