Direct Payment

Replies

By kerry.

Re: Direct Payment
Thu 3 Apr 2008 21:52

not used it myself and i suppose it may have improved but i would read the small print, if you know what i mean. people i know have come unstuck with it one way or another.

By goddess57

Re: Direct Payment
Sat 5 Apr 2008 16:40

I do but you need to find out how much help you need in your home meaning how many hours a week and the cost hourly to pay care assistant ,which you have to get in your self then you need to find a good accountant to do the tax and insurance out of there pay ,You should get help with this through your social worker who knows all about working out direct payments for the person who needs it.But it can be donw and you can pick the hours to suit you. caroline

By jonesy

Re: Direct Payment
Sat 5 Apr 2008 17:05

I do the direct payment and its fairly simple. You become the employer who advertises the vacancy, interviews then employs. While that happens social services does a full check on them. When social services initially sets up the direct payments with you, it will be agreed in writing your allocated hours of care.

There will be money you will need 2 pay, About £100, to set up everything, but this will be re-embursed to you. And thats it.

Regarding an accountant, social services works along side a company who does all the tax, insurance, wage slips etc. So there would be no need for this.

They send you time sheets you and P A, fill them in, you post them, and they send you pay slip.

It is a fairly simple procedure. But I always try to allocate myself one afternoon per month to go over any paper work.

I hope this is of some help - but social services will go through it withyou step by step good luck
carole x

By Alice

Re: Direct Payment
Sat 5 Apr 2008 22:37

Hi Cat Woman
I am still undecided about going on DP for the following reasons.
What happens if the person you employ is off sick on holiday etc? or if some reason they are not right for you and you have to sack them, they could take you to an industrial tribunal.
Also, local councils are not really doing you any favours offering DP as they are under pressure from the Govt to get as many users on DP as possible in the next 2 years. The more people on DP the more stars the council get !! so they don't really care about what is in our best interests. I live in a new city and as far as I know my local council are nowhere near their target. they have only two stars!!

Anyway whatever you do good luck

Alice