Direct Payments

[MandyG]

ooh well done

do you have someone in mind to employ?

I am still learning about how all this works lol. how long did it take you to get it?

xx

[Blaadyblah]

I've not decided yet, as to how long it's taken - if you read back through this topic I've posted at each stage so you can see exactly how long it's taken.

[Sez]

Hullo chaps

I got awarded my Respite money, but I do have to make a contribution. The only thing is that the money is sitting in my bank account, but I don't have any rules or regulations for it! I've been trying to get hold of someone to help me, but I'm quickly running out of time - we're meant to be going away on Friday but I can't get any straight answers about how I'm allowed to spend this money!

I don't yet have a debit card on the account (still waiting for the bank to pull their finger out), so what I wanted to do was to pay for my respite weekend out of my own account, keep a file of reciepts for my paper trail, and then transfer the money from my respite account when we get home, so that every single penny is accounted for. A friend of mine is on respite as well, and thinks I shouldn't have any problem so long as I really can account for every penny, but I wanted to get this confirmed by social services. My other problem is that I don't know whether or not I can claim for petrol expenses? We're spending a long weekend at a friend's holiday home 250 miles away, so there's no accommodation costs, but there will be travel expenses, lots more driving around than I would normally do on a weekend, day trips and food for myself and my carer. I'm very confused about what I can and can't use this respite money for, and I'm so worried about doing something "wrong" and getting into trouble for it!
Are there any national guidelines about money for respite, or is it specific to each Local Authority?

[barkingmad]

HI Sez,

I think the petrol/travel costs would be included, well its included when it comes to the girl who will be taking me out.

I would do exactly what you said keep a really tight account of how you spent the money, all receipts etc and then speak to your care worker when you get back.

From what they said to me on Friday, they know people make little mistakes and its fne, they can help you sort it out. If the money was given as a respite, that would suggest getting there, costs of accomodation, partners/carers costs, food, and poss a little spending money...

I dont know how it works when you have to contribute though.

Have a lovely holiday! xx

[Sez]

Well, I managed to speak to the lady who assessed me, and she thought that since I'm supposed to make a contribution, then petrol, accommodation and food costs can be included but anything else should come out of my pocket, which is fine with me She said to hang on to all the receipts and proof of payments, and do a bank transfer from my Direct Payments account when we get back. So long as I can account for it all, then I shouldn't have any bother. Obviously, if we eat out every night, I won't claim that back as the money is supposed to cover accommodation and food as if I was staying in a respite centre, but for trips to the supermarket to self-cater is fine

[Rosie]

Hi all

Well, I have been and gone and done it now!
When hubby first became ill last year I contacted our local social services to ask for help as Tony was my full-time carer. The whole experience was traumatic and very emotional and did not produce anything. We had a cleaner for 4 hours a week through Age Concern (hubby was suitable age for them) and his attendance allowance covered the cost of that. After he died Age Concern kindly agreed to continue what they had started so I still have a cleaner, but I have to pay her and what she is allowed to do is very limited.
I am informed that Ceredigion (my county) will only supply personal care and frozen meals (for me only, kids apparently don't need food!). The social worker only came out to see me because the McMillan nurse requested a visit and when she asks they have to come out. They did manage to give me no notice so the McMillan nurse was not able to attend as she had planned. While they were here they did admit that they would have to reassess me 'when things changed'. It was a huge worry for hubby that they would not sort anything out for me, I am not sure if I will ever be able to forgive them for that.
Anyway, I have avoided contacting them so far, but as I am struggling physically (and painwise) at the moment I know I have to sort something out. So today I went to my GP and requested she contact social services for me, which she is going to do. Don't know how long they will take to contact me this time, but I am not holding my breath.
i will keep you updated but I expect it will be a long drawn-out affair. in my favour I do have the GP's support and I receive the high rate care component of DLA.

Rosie

[nonyanomemory]

Good luck Rosie, you deserve all the help I just wish that whenever anyone mentions direct payments the anxiety associated with applying and the process wasn't so great. It seems so unfair that the process should be stressful, there is something wrong with the system that it should be so. I have discussed this with husband but he see it all as an invasion of privacy and thats the end of that!

nonya

[janey]

Sez and Rosie, if you contact Leonard Cheshire organisation, they can give you up to date direct payment information. They have been really helpful for me and help me to do the quarterly returns as well. They came to my house to do all the form filling and generally took that weight off my shoulders when I first applied.
Good luck to everyone applying for this, it has helped me enormously as I get 4 hours respite a week and Rosie gets to spend time with another adult who she gets on well with. I pay £10 an hour for her help which leaves enough over for petrol etc costs.

[Es*]

Rosie, I'm afriad I don't have time to do a comprenhensive reply atm ... but you have specific rights in your role as a disabled parent when you are assessed for care services. It sounds like these might have been missed (as they often are) by (for example) suggesting ready meals only for you. Please contact someone like the Disabled Parents Network who can point you towards the relevent legislation so you can get some better and morea ppropriate assessment.

[Rosie]

Hi all

Janey and Es, thanks for those links, they are both very useful. I am fully expecting a fight to get what I need,I think both these organisations could be helpful.

Rosie

[Blaadyblah]

I've seen the lady from the ILA this morning, I'm being appointed an advisor who will help me to draw up a support plan, employ someone as a PA and get things sorted out. It does take a long time to get it sorted out but I'm starting to think now that it really is going to help.

[alison1984]

i am in reciept of a type direct payment to help with myself and my daughter we employ my mum for 20 hours per week to come in and help do whaty ever is needed, where we live we have just taken part in a pilot scheme that is to eventually take over from direct payments and is called self directed support, basically your social worker will come out asses you and your needs, she then goes away and input the date into a computor and it generates a 'amount' to which you are given, and being self directed support you can spend this fund on anything you feel will help your life so long as it is agreed by your social worker. for example, i employ a pa 20 hours a week, i use some of it to pay for my children to go to nursery 3 days a week, we are having a dishwasher installed in the kitchen and we also got some money toward respite for the whole family and some to pay towards babysitting for when we have my hosp appointments etc.
it is a fantastic step ahead and we even made the community care mag after having a meeting with david behan the director general for social care and he heard our family story and described it as "the best example he has ever seen of self directed support" and described our fantastic social worker as "inspirational"
we have also been part of a dvd made regarding self directed support and getting the word out about hms/eds and how self directed support helps make our lifes that bit more 'normal' and its the little thing that make a big diffrence to us.

[Blaadyblah]

Thanks Alison, I was curious as to what would happen when direct payments were ceased, it sounds like very much the same sort of process under a new name.

[alison1984]

yes it is very much the same as direct payments only the budget you are give is open and not just for employing a PA it gives you far far more than that, and so much more freedom to to the things that will really make a diffrence to your life, for us the most amazing thing has been to be able to send our 2 girls to a lovely small nursery 3 days a week (they both have HMS too) it has been wonderful to give my husband a break and also for our girls to make so much progress there self socially while there, i just hope the scheme is nationwide soon xx

[lil_miffy]

im getting assessed for direct payements again . i was asseessed early this year when i was blind but it was a total waste of time because the social worker wwas horrible and decided i was making the sightloss up (why anyone would do that i have no idea) so even though we went through the form together and she ticked alot fo the boxes to say i had critical and substantial need which is what is added up , when another lady came to see em to do my financial assesmetn to see how much i would contribute she siad i had only been awarded £3000 which she said was the lowest shes ever seen especially considering the needs i had then. when we did the financial assesment because i was recieving middle rate care dla and on income support becuase i couldnt work it came out that i would be paying £20 a week to recieve £30 in direct payemtns so i was only £10 better off. this didnt even cover one taxi ride to town for appointments.
The woman coudltn understand it at all (i by this point realised what was going on and was so angry).

Anyway i dont have that social worker anymore thank god and my OT is going to refer me to a new one who will reassess me. She said the direct payemtns (here is the Incontrol version which is alot more flexibel on what it can be used on) will paytowards care, and equiment.

I hope it works out as being worth it this time. The thing i dont understand at all is if you work your wage isnt taken into account (or you can earn a large amount before it is) but income support is even if its for not being able to work. then obviously your care part of dla pays towards it so the higher rate you recieve the more you contribute.
Last time one of the things it was to cover was the incontinence costs but for some reason incontinence is only given 5pence a week in terms of extra costs!
i honestly have no idea who makes these policies but somethings serously wrong when people who need help arent getting it and others get stuff when they can manage without.
A blind guy in my town was allowed to spend his on a huge flat screen tv, someone else bought designer sunglasses and a wii yet i couldnt even get one taxi ride a week! im having a real issue with the enefits system today because im so happy with my dla yet so mad that others are missing out over and over again.