Direct payments .. help

[spiritsam]

Was referred for dp/services by OT . Thought would have people out to assess and explain things but instead just had letter saying awarded 104 hours per year and have to decide DP or services . Wanted to use DP for practical help i.e garden , house stuff e.t.c . Do i need to ask childrens service what i can use it for ? Then i have to sort wages , tax e.t.c don't i ? My head hurts :(

Hi Lenin thanks for answering . The referral was for help for me as have my own disability too . Guess will have to try and ring them as bit confused by it all tbh . Am just really surprised by i just coming by letter without an assessment if you like . x

If you say DP they have to send out a DP worker to explain it all to you and most LAs will add money on top to let you use a payroll company so its not too demanding for you

I've just been assessed for direct payments. My ds has been awarded 4 hours per week (term time) and 5 per week (school holidays). A Direct Payments Advisor came out to explain the payment system and discuss the various ways of handling the account. I have gone for opening a separate bank account myself for the money to go into but have opted for "them" to do the PAYE side of things. I notify them of the hours my 2 PA's have done, "they" work it out, send me a payslip for them and I then write them a cheque from my DIRECT PAYMENTS BANK ACCOUNT.

Sounds simple. There have been some hiccups and YOU have to get your PA's tax forms together and give them a contract etc but YOU SHOULD HAVE HAD A DIRECT PAYMENTS ADVISOR OUT TO YOU!!

I couldn't have done it without her advice to be honest because, lovely as the Special Needs Social Worker was, she had no idea about the practicalities of the payments and "official" side of things.

Also, you should ask about the START UP GRANT to cover insurance.

Oh god sounds like a lot of trouble and more to worry about

Yep....but once it's set up, if you pay "them" to do the wages/PAYE side of things, it's ok.

We were on Aiming High For Disabled Children payments which was great. But, every coup,e of months it was touch and go as to whether it would be continued. This DP is a permanent way of getting a PA.

We've only just started with it, but hope it'll work out.