Direct Payments to purchase equipment and / or minor adaptations

What is a Direct Payment?

Direct Payments are a different way of getting the daily living equipment and/or minor adaptations you need to help you to live more independently. Instead of Social Services providing you with the equipment and/or minor adaptations you need, you will receive money, a Direct Payment, enabling you to buy it for yourself.

The advantage of a Direct Payment is that you may wish to buy the equipment from a different supplier to the one the Council uses, or you may choose to put the money towards a more costly, highly specified model. You can choose the option that suits you.

You do not have to receive a Direct Payment. You may prefer the Council to provide the equipment and/or minor adaptation for you.

Direct Payments must be spent on meeting your assessed needs. The Council must be satisfied that what you spend your money on will meet your assessed needs adequately.

How will my needs be Assessed?

An Occupational Therapist or Community Care Assessor or Sensory Services Worker will visit you and advise on the most appropriate equipment or minor adaptation to meet your needs.

Who can apply for a Direct Payment?

Anyone who has been assessed as needing equipment and/or minor adaptations can apply for a Direct Payment.

How much will I get?

Once your needs have been assessed, the Council will work out the cost of providing the equipment and/or minor adaptation you need, from our supplier list and offer you that amount as a Direct Payment.

Ownership and Responsibilities

Equipment purchased using a Direct Payment will belong to you and you will be responsible for its care and maintenance. An additional amount may be added to your initial payment to cover a warranty. When the equipment is no longer useful to you, if it is in good condition and can be re-issued, the Council’s Community Equipment Service will collect it. 50% of the additional cost may be refunded to you at the council’s discretion.

You will need to sign a user agreement that sets out how the Direct Payment should be used to meet your needs properly. If you spend that money on an item not agreed by the Council, it might be claimed back from you.

What do I do if I want to apply for a Direct Payment?

• Talk in more detail to your assessor about how a Direct Payment could work for you.
• You will need to sign an agreement form. This gives details about the type of equipment and/or minor adaptation you require to meet your assessed needs, how much money you will receive, and your responsibilities.
• The Council’s Finance Team will normally pay the Direct Payment into your bank account within 21 days.
• You will need to purchase the equipment within 2 months of receiving the Direct Payment.
• Organisations like the Disabled Living Foundation provide information about what equipment is available on the market. Your assessor will help you decide whether an item will meet your needs.
• You will need to let your assessor know when the equipment has arrived. They will visit you to make sure that the equipment meets your needs properly.
• You will need to provide details of the insurance or warranty.
• You will need to send a copy of the invoice or receipt to the Finance Team at the Council.

How do I get more information?

Talk to your Social Worker, Occupational Therapist, Community Care assessor or Sensory Services worker about your particular needs.

For further information you can contact us on:

Tel:020 8891 7971
Text:07800 002439
Email:adultsocialservices@richmond.gov.uk
Web: www.richmond.gov.uk