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What is a Direct Payment?

A Direct Payment is a cash payment given to you by Cheshire East Council so that you can buy the care and support you need yourself. Direct Payments can only be given to those people who have been assessed as needing care and support by adult social care (under the Care Act 2014). If you prefer not to have a Direct Payment, the Council can arrange your care and support for you. These webpages contain information on direct payments for adults in Cheshire East.

There is a range of information on Direct Payments for children with SEN and disabilities.

How you can spend your direct payment

Direct Payments give you greater control and flexibility in arranging and purchasing your own care. There are a range of things which you can choose to spend your Direct Payment on as long as these are agreed within your support plan.

Examples on how you can spend your direct payment: 

  • You can employ a Personal Assistant to support you
  • You can pay a care agency that provides personal care or support.
  • You can pay for a respite service which allows your informal carer to have a break.

What you will be responsible for

Direct payments give you control of the support you receive. You will also have the responsibilities that come with managing a budget and potentially becoming an employer (such as employing a personal assistant).

If you think that you are unable to manage the day-to-day financial responsibilities of a direct payment, you can nominate someone else (a responsible person) or you can opt for a ‘managed account’, whereby a third party can support you with managing the financial element of the direct payment including paying invoices and financial monitoring (at a cost to you) on your behalf.

Examples of a Direct payment

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Josie lives independently in her own home but following a fall needs help with day to day living at home. A direct payment means that she can employ a personal assistant (PA) to help her to wash, dress, shop for groceries and prepare meals.

David uses his direct payment to employ a personal assistant (PA) to help him attend a university course and to attend social activities. 

Riaz employs a personal assistant (PA) to take his wife, who is living with dementia, out on day trips and supports her to pursue her hobbies while giving him some respite from caring.

Anthea employs a personal assistant (PA) to support her brother following an accident to help with shopping, preparing meals and organising appointments.

Direct Payment Policy

Page last reviewed: 15 April 2025

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