How To Get A Direct Payment

How do I get a Direct Payment?

1. Get as much information as you can. You can get information by:

• Calling Elizabeth at the Direct Payments project at Real Life Options on  270 7020.
• Calling the Direct Payments Support Service on ;  214 3654
• Getting the Easy Access Guide to Direct Payments. This comes with a tape and CD-rom. You can get this from the direct payments project at  270 7020.

2. Contact your social worker and say you would like to meet with them to talk about direct payments.

If you don’t have a social worker call Leeds social services on  398 4702. Tell them you want a community care assessment.

3. Think about how you want to use a direct payments. You might want support to get dressed in the morning, make your supper, go to college or to go out to see your friends.

It may help to write these things down. This will make it easier to tell the social worker what help you think you need when they come to see you.

4. Get an assessment. When the social worker come to see you, tell them you are interested in direct payments and why you would like them. The social worker will then do an assessment to find out what things you need help to do.

If you would like someone with you for your assessment you can ask a relative, friend or advocate to be there.

If your social worker says you cannot have direct payments ask them to explain why.

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Next: Advice And Support In Getting And Using Direct Payments
See also: Read an interview with Chris Passey, who uses Direct payments: Direct Payments Interview
Return to: Direct Payments