Direct Payments

[chrisb]

I have recently been accepted for Direct Payments and employed a PA
for a few hours personal care
I wanted to know if anyone else has had a care assesment from Social services and if they got assesed for social activities, hospital appts, shopping and Parenting responsibilities. the type of things that I require additional help with now. Who sorts that out, the Adult Disability team or the Children and Families team. in my laocalauthority they keep passing the buck.
My local authority don't seem to know or have a policy in place, they seem great with older peoples needs, and tell me I am unusual because of my age, but surely I'm not the only one asking these questions. I am sure I will have to pay for it when I am financialy assesed anyway but I think it should be part of the assesment. Or am I totall of my trolley.

MY hubby works long shifts and isn't able to do everything and so letting the children commit to afterschool activities or visit with friends (there schools are a long way away) is something I wish I could allow and with a little support I could. (I have no family living near)

Any help or suggestions appreciated

[Lorraine]

With me its the Adult Disability team but I did not require any parenting help any more, flown the coop and gone to Uni, and am not sure if you would get that added to your care assessment but have sent you a pm covering what I managed to get and how but as I say, do ask further questions and if I can help I will,
regards Lorraine.

[Mari]

Lorraine!

How are you?! You haven't posted for so long, we were wondering how you were on the thread 'old members' (can't remember which forum). I came across a copy I'd made of my question about concentration a long time ago, and you'd given your perspective on things, which was helpful.

Anyway, I wouldn't expect you to remember me, but best wishes,
Mari

[nonyanomemory]

Sorry to be so off topic, just had to say Lorraine, how lovely to see you on the boards again after all this time. Your posts on the boards were always so helpful, genuine and knowledgable (sp). Hoping life is treating you well? Like Mari I don't expect you to remember me but we remember you and a very warm welcome back?

kind regards Nonya

[Sez]

I'm on the Independent Living Direct Payments scheme to pay for a carer (my stepmum) to come and do some care work for me for 18.5 hours a week. Most of that is social time (about 14 hours) and four and a half hours of food prep and helping me around the house.

Since we started the scheme last Spring, we've managed to work out weekends away and once a whole week away with my parents, so that my stepmum still does our agreed hours, or we save up a bit of time especially, so she is still working for me and still being paid. However, because I can't afford it, and my direct payment money doesn't cover it, my parents have to pay for their hotel room/B&B, etc, themselves, even though they are really doing us a favour by coming away with us to help me out. I know that my dad needs to pay for himself, as he comes along to stop him being bored and lonely at home, but someone I know mentioned that she is on direct payments and gets "respite money" to pay for her carer to go with them on holiday. I think it covers her carer's room (although I assume if my dad wanted to come, it would only cover the cost of a single room and my dad would make up the difference), meals and that sort of thing, but it is only to make it affordable for her carer to go with her up to a set expense per year.

Does anyone know anything about it? I've tried to contact the Independent Living Centre for information, but I keep being told that they will "call me back". We're thinking about going away in April for a week or two and it would really make things easier if we could afford to take my step-mum with us so that D can have some assistance in pushing the wheelchair and helping me out, and gets a chance to relax and enjoy himself as well.

[Sue New]

Hi Guys,

I am resurrecting this old thread as I had a Social Servics OT come around today to check my slippery ramp, and she also while she was here did a full assessment of my needs (I wasn't expecting this?).

To cut a long story short (she was here for 1.5 hours), she is going to organsie for me to have a Care worker and to look into me getting "Direct payments". She asked me about household chores and I said that to be honest my poor hubby has to do all that, and as he works fulltime and is often away on business he is tired when he gets home and often resents having to do all the washing up, cleaning, washing etc. It often ends up in arguments . Anyway the OT was really shocked that I hadn't already been assigned a Care Worker.

Can anyone give me an idea of what sorts of things the Direct Payments can go towards? The things I could do with help with are housework, ironing, cleaning, washing up, collecting medications, food shopping etc....

I would love to hear from you if you already receive Direct Payments.

Many thanks,

Sue.

[janey]

Hi Sue, I had a carers assessment and now have a personal assistant for Rosie for 4 hours a week. She does whatever needs doing at the time, lunch, taking to school, entertaining etc. I advertised for her and have a real gem, I have no worries about leaving Rosie and she copes with all her dislocations as well. I think it's pretty much between you and the PA as to what they do and that can be sorted out in your job description and interview. You could always ask at the interview if there's anything they are not happy doing. Direct Payments works really well once it's up and running, the only thing I don't like is being an employer (paperwork, tax returns etc) but you can pay a small amount for a company to do this on your behalf.
I hope you find someone nice to help you.

[Blaadyblah]

I wonder if and when my lot will get round to this? I've been waiting almost six months and they've yet to even do an assessment! Best of luck Sue, make sure you tell them all the things you'd like to be able to do as well as the things you're struggling with now.

[wibblywobbly]

Bladyblah.
You need to chase up your assesment, I think that social services have a timeframe by which they should do the assesment. Maybe give them a call, remind them how long you have been waiting and ask them to confirm a date or speak to a senior officer.

I had an assesment some time ago and was granted 17hrs per wk care. Qualifing rules have changed since I was assessed, however I still qualify under the new rules. Once you have been assesed as needing 'X' hours care you are also required to do a financial assesment, Please note that although the forms ask for your partners income you are not required to fill this in and I am told that if not filled in it cannot be used in assesing your contribution. If you complete the forms with partners income then it is used in calculating your contribution. I told them that my hubby refused to disclose his income to me, so they are not going to get him to disclose it to them. Once you have been assesed as needing care you can apply for Direct Payments and employ a PA . You can use the hours to suit your individual circumstances/needs, within reason. That's the whole point of Direct Payments so you have the flexiblity. I have 2 carers/PA's One that comes in during the week and one (my sister) that helps weekends.
My PA's help with everyday household chores, the familys laundry, shopping, collecting sorting medications, preparing meals ect.. My hubby works full-time, but continues to help me with my personal care and come with me to hospital appts as this suits us as a family. I am not comfortable to have personal care done by the PA, but with the PA doing general duties, we have more quality time as a family.
I hope this is helpful, If you have any questions I would be happy to share my experience with DP Please PM me.

[barkingmad]

Hmm! That was very interesting thank you for posting.

I am actually moving onto direct payments...purely because I get fed up with them changing my carers and yesterdays actually said 'I am going to have to tell the office that you refused personal care!'

I pointed out that in my care plan it actually says help with personal care and household chores as directed by Donna!!! She didnt want to help me clean sons room...well I didnt want to do it either but hey I dont get that choice

[Blaadyblah]

Thanks Wibblywobbly - I did chase them up and had my assessment last week - I should hear by Friday as the panel sit this week. It's all go here at the moment!

[Rosie]

Hi all

I am going to have to contact social services for this kind of assessment soon. I have the added problem that my area's social services 'only supply personal care' and meals (frozen dinners for me only) so I know I am going to be in for a fight to get what I need. I have been told that direct payments are the way to go, althought they have also told me that 'direct payments can only replace what social services would otherwise provide', in other words personal care and frozen meals. However, I have also been advised that this is not true, they are just trying it on. So, once I feel strong enough am going to contact them and ask for an assessment, I am really not looking forward to that.

Rosie

[Sue New]

Good luck Blaady and Rosie - I hope you both get the help you need.

It looks like I was given false hopes, as the social services OT got back to me to say I wouldn't be able to get Direct Payments for help with household chores.

Sometimes I think I would be better off not working as then I would be entitled to lots more than I am now. I try to struggle on, but can't seem to get the extra help I need

Oh well, that will teach me to get my hopes up. As the saying goes "he who expecteth nothing, shall ne'er be dissapointed".

Sue.

[Rosie]

Sometimes I think I would be better off not working as then I would be entitled to lots more than I am now

Sue, I know what you mean. I have been unable to access loads of help because our income was too high. mind you, they usually take joint income into account so you still may not be entitled even if you weren't working. I think my income (my pension, widow's pension from hubby, bereavement allowance etc) may still put me over the limit for some financial help. So, if I hadn't worked for 20 years, and hubby hadn't worked for 45 years, I would probably be better off now.

Rosie

[Retro]

I'm also considering approaching Social Services for help around the house, but, I can't bring myself to do it while the house is a complete tip

Lindsey