After your needs assessment (or a re-assessment), you can choose whether to have services provided directly by Lewisham Council’s Social Care and Health or have a direct payment.
A direct payment is a cash payment to allow you to buy your own support instead of the Council’s care services providing it for you. This can be arranged by the team that is supporting you.
More about direct payments:
- you can use the money from direct payments to employ a personal assistant or you can use an agency to provide staff for you
- you can 'mix and match' and have some of your support provided by us at the Council and take some as a direct payment
- you can't use the money to employ a close relative or person living in your home
- you must use the money to meet your assessed needs
- you will need to open a separate bank account where the money will be paid. You will need to send in the monthly statements from this bank account
- our support teams will give you all the help you need to operate direct payments
- direct payments are not a social security benefit, will not affect any means tested benefit you are entitled to and are not taxable.
Who is eligible
Direct payments are available for you if your needs assessment has shown that you require support services that are available from Lewisham Council.