Department of Health

Website of the Department of Health

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Direct payments

Direct payments are cash payments made to individuals who have been assessed as needing services, in lieu of social service provisions.

A summary of changes to Direct Payments

From 9 November 2009, there will be important changes to the Direct Payments scheme. New regulations will extend the scheme to people who lack the capacity to consent, and to people with mental health problems who are subject to mental health and certain criminal justice legislation. Guidance for councils on direct payments has been updated to reflect these changes. This leaflet sets out these changes and explains where you can find more information.

An introduction to direct payments

Direct payments are cash payments made to individuals who have been assessed as needing services, in lieu of social service provisions.

Increasing the take up of direct payments

Direct payments are a success for those who have them. Unfortunately many people are simply not being offered them when they should be. There are wide variations in uptake, both between local council schemes and across the different groups of individuals.

Extending the availability of direct payments

The scope of direct payments has been extended to include previously excluded groups by recent legislation following on from a commitment in the White Paper, Our health, our care, our say.

Publications and resources related to direct payments

This section includes a selection of key publications related to direct payments.

Additional links

Guidance on direct payments

For community care, services for carers and children's services

A guide to getting direct payments from your council:

A route to independent living

Individual budgets

The individual budgets pilot is a cross government initiative led by the Department of Health that aims to provide greater choice and control for people needing support.

Make an enquiry

If you would like to make an enquiry about DH policy related to direct payments please email

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