Who can get a direct payment
You can get a direct payment if the following apply:
- you have the mental capacity and ability to request and manage a direct payment, or that arrangements are in place for an authorised person to do so in your best interests under the Mental Capacity Act 2005.
- you have eligible care and support needs.
- you have a Care Act assessment, personal budget and support plan.
- you qualify for council funding following a financial assessment.
- through arranging your care and support plan it has been jointly agreed a direct payment will help meet your needs.
However, there are certain circumstances where the law prohibits the council from offering a direct payment. This includes situations where an individual is subject to specific criminal justice circumstances, such as being on licence following release from prison, or where they must comply with drug or alcohol testing, treatment, or rehabilitation programmes as part of a community order or suspended sentence. These restrictions will be considered from the outset.
It is a condition of a direct payment that it must be managed safely, if this condition cannot be met, you will not be eligible for a direct payment, and the council will arrange services directly to meet your needs.
Policy and guidance
We've updated our direct payments policy and guidance - this will be introduced as user agreements are updated from Summer 2026.