Direct payments

Learn what direct payments are, how they're paid, what you can use them on and how to set them up and manage them.

What is a direct payment

A direct payment means that we pay your personal budget directly to you or someone acting on your behalf.

This payment will come from Suffolk County Council. The money is paid every four weeks in advance. We will normally pay the money into a pre-payment card account that we will set up for you.

The pre-payment card account is used just like a normal bank account except that will not be able to withdraw cash or make payments by cheque from the account. 

What can a direct payment be used for?

You can only use this payment for goods and services that we have agreed in your care and support plan. These may include:

  • care services from an agency or a micro-enterprise·
  • employing someone to help you, such as a personal assistant
  • using an agency to employ someone for you
  • paying to attend a day care service
  • paying for some respite care services
  • paying for leisure activities
  • buying equipment to help you

You are not able to use your direct payment to pay for:

  • permanent care in a residential or nursing care home
  • ordinary household expenses such as utility bills, rent or mortgage payments or food
  • gambling
  • anything illegal
  • anything that does not contribute to meeting your needs or achieving the outcomes that you have agreed in your care and support plan
  • employing a close family member living in the same household, unless the local authority has agreed this.

Setting up a direct payment

When you decide that you would like a direct payment, we will ask you to:

  • work with us to develop and agree outcomes in your care and support plan
  • agree to the terms and conditions and sign a direct payment agreement (sample below)
  • give us some details so we are able to set up your pre-payment card account.

You will need to be able to understand the agreement that you are being asked to sign. The person from SCC who is helping you to arrange your care should explain this in more detail to you. If you are not able to agree to or manage a direct payment, there are other options available which will be discussed with you to ensure that you still have the option of a direct payment.

Managing direct payments

You can find much more information about direct payments in our booklets. Please note that due to some recent policy changes these booklets are in the process of being amended:

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