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Children's Direct PaymentsView all services

Direct payments are cash payments made directly to the child’s parent, the young person or their nominee, allowing them to arrange provision themselves.

It is a different way of arranging support and can offer more flexibility, choice and control in the way support is provided.

Liverpool City Council and, where appropriate, Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Commissioning Board (Liverpool Place), may only agree to make direct payments in respect of educational, social care and / or healthcare provision specified in an EHC plan - where a valid request has been made for a personal budget, including a request for direct payments.

In certain circumstances you can ask for direct payments for social care and / or healthcare without having an EHC plan. More information can be found by clicking on the Personal Health Budgets.

Direct payments are not means tested and will not affect any benefits you receive. They are not counted as taxable income.

To ensure our service provided by the Disabled Children’s Team is targeted at the right children and young people, we apply eligibility criteria.  The criteria helps to ensure that we don’t simply consider the diagnosis that a child or young person may have, but consider the effects their disability has on their day to day life.  The Eligibility Criteria for the Disabled Children’s Team document outlines the criteria and explains the process when a referral is received by the Disabled Children’s Team.

FAQ's

Frequently asked questions

What are Direct Payments?

Direct payments are one way that you can take a personal budget, they are cash payments that are made directly to the child's parent, the young person or their nominee, allowing them to arrange and pay for services themselves.

It is a different way of arranging support and can offer more flexibility, choice and control in the way support is provided.

Can I employ my own personal assistants?

Yes, but you will become an employer and will have to abide by employment law.

Where can I get further advice about becoming an employer?

The Government www.gov.uk; ACAS (Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service) www.acas.org.uk and the Skills for Care www.skillsforcare.org.uk websites have a wide range of useful information.

What are the advantages of employing my own personal assistants?

They work for you; you decide what you want them to do; and you decide when you want them to work.

Can I employ someone who lives in the same household as me?

No. This will only be considered in very exceptional circumstances and would need approval from Liverpool City Council (LCC) and/or Liverpool Clinical Commissioning Group (LCCG).

Can I ask an agency to provide support?

Yes, in this case you will not become an employer but you may not have as much control over who supports you and the times that they will work.

How will I receive the money?

Payments will be made into a bank account which you will have to open solely for the use of direct payments.

Do I have to have an Education, Health & Care (EHC) plan to be able to request a Direct Payment?

No, you can ask for a direct payment if you and have been assessed as having a qualifying social care need over and above what universal, specialist and targeted services can provide or for health have been assessed as requiring continuing care or continuing health care.

My child has Direct Payments from social care and I think may get Direct Payments from Health and Education, do I need three separate bank accounts?

No, just one! The money will be put together and paid to you by the Local Authority who will also audit the account. Health will give their share of the money to the Local Authority.