Carers Direct Payments
Carers Direct payments give carers, subject to eligibility, the opportunity to receive cash payments to buy services or items. The payments are to help carers continue in their caring role and to maintain their own health and wellbeing.
If you are undertaking an assessment or review, please note that the request for a Carers direct payment must be linked to the carer's needs and the ability to sustain their caring role.
Who can request a Carers Direct Payment?
- a carer aged 18 and over
- carers who provide or intend to provide a substantial amount of care on a regular basis for another individual aged 18 or over;
- the person that the carer is caring for is receiving or is eligible to receive community care services.
Examples of Carers Direct Payments
- funding towards taking a short break
- washing machine - if the carer washes the cared for person's clothes
- reflexology
- massage
- gardening
- counselling
- funding towards driving lessons - care manager should discuss whether the carer has access to a vehicle, can meet tax, insurance, petrol costs.
For further information regarding the Carers Direct Payment scheme please contact our Carers Helpline number on the right of this page.
For general information on Direct Payments see Direct Payments.
Page updated: 29 Nov 2011
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