Once we have assessed from our earlier conversations that you have eligible care needs, we will ask to look at your finances to work out how much you can afford to contribute towards the total cost of your care. This will include looking at any income you have, such as benefits or pensions.

Once we have worked out how much money is available to meet your care needs, known as your personal budget, you can choose how that money is managed. Your personal budget is based on what has been agreed in your care and support plan.

How your personal budget can be managed

You can choose to:

• receive a direct payment so you can arrange and pay for your own care
• ask us to arrange your care for you using your personal budget
• use a combination of both, with a direct payment for some support and council‑arranged care for the rest

What you cannot use a direct payment for

A direct payment cannot be used to pay for:

• ongoing residential or nursing care, unless it is short‑term respite care agreed with us in advance
• food, clothing or other everyday living costs
• goods or services that are not included in your care and support plan
• employing someone who lives with you, unless this has been agreed with us in advance
• healthcare services
• other services provided directly by us
• anything that is illegal

How you receive your direct payment

Most people choose to have their payments paid into an online card account, however we can discuss alternative options.

We will pay the money to you in advance, every 4 weeks. If you need to contribute towards the cost of your care, you must pay your part into the same account at the same time.

Managing your direct payment

If you receive a direct payment, you are responsible for how the money is spent. You must be able to show that it has been used to meet the needs set out in your care and support plan. This means you will need to keep records of your spending.

We may ask you to:

• keep receipts and invoices
• provide information about how the money has been spent
• speak to your social care worker before spending the money on something not included in your plan
• return any money that has not been used
• keep records of wages, tax and National Insurance if you employ a carer or personal assistant

Before your direct payment is set up, you will need to sign an agreement with us. This explains your responsibilities in more detail.

Help to manage your direct payment

If you are unable to manage a direct payment yourself, you may be able to:

• ask someone you trust to manage it for you
• use a managed account provider

You can discuss which option might work best for you with our direct payments support service.

Contact us about direct payments

For general advice about direct payments, you can contact us by:

• telephone: 01202 794 242
• email: dpadviceservice@bcpcouncil.gov.uk

To speak to the finance team about an existing direct payment, you can contact us by:

• telephone: 01202 794 234
• email: direct.payments@bcpcouncil.gov.uk