Money paid to people (or to someone acting on their behalf) by their local council on a one-off or regular basis, so people can arrange their own support to meet their eligible needs.
The person may choose a direct payment to meet all their needs, or just some of their needs, with their remaining needs met through support arranged by the council or by a third party (usually through an Individual Service Fund (ISF)).
Local councils should give people clear information about direct payments so they can decide whether to ask for a payment, and should support people to use and manage the payment appropriately.
People can request a direct payment during care and support planning, or before or during a review.
Local councils must not force people to take a direct payment if they don’t want to, or place people in a situation where a direct payment is the only way to draw on personalised care and support.
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