Legal Update: In a nutshell - Direct payments for children with disabilities

- What are direct payments?

Direct payments are monetary payments made by local authorities to anyone who has parental responsibility for a child or a young person with disabilities. Direct payments must be offered as an alternative to receiving services from the local authority. The payments can then be used in a number of ways to provide care and support services for the disabled child or young person. Direct payments can be useful in allowing parents to shape their own childcare package, including support and services that are not routinely provided by community care services.

- Who can receive direct payments?

A person with parental responsibility can receive direct payments for a disabled child or young person if they have been assessed by the local authority as eligible for a service. An assessment of their needs will have been carried out by the local authority prior to the parent or carer's application for direct payments. The assessment must take into account the needs of the family as a whole unit, rather than just the needs of the child or young person. If a disabled child or young person is not receiving the appropriate services from the local authority or their needs have changed, a reassessment should be requested.