Direct Payments for Care - Anyone had these?

Hi, I think I was an employee, but it's around ten years ago now.I don't remember having any problems though we could pay for cate as and when we needed it .

GracesGran

It certainly can Nina. The idea of emergency care for mum was to keep her out of hospital. I wish I had said then that I could not do it as they would have to have done something. As it has now moved into ongoing care I am beginning to see it as ongoing arranging the care as I am still going over to fill in. I think they may end up with both of us costing more in the long run.

DS's case worker suggested he applied for DP to cover the cost of attending an employment scheme which costs £40 a day we started the application 7 wks ago and he had a telephone assesment by finance dept. 4 wks ago and lady indicated all ok but nothing since.
They can be long winded.

Kitty, it may not be what I asked but it is what I need to know, thank you. The trouble is that I don't yet know what I should be asking.

Seaside - did you have to act as an employer to do this or did you use an agency?

Jane - I keep being offered numbers too. I can't see me getting anything else. Not because they wouldn't if they could but simply because the cuts mean there is not money.

Yes Grace I had direct payments when my dad was alive some years ago now, they worked well, I was given a set number of hours each week, it helped to pay for private night care when my mum was taken into hospital and dad couldn't be left on his own.

We applied for direct payments for my MiL. This was after we heard what the pathetic so called 'free personal care' offered up here actually consisted of. However, processing the application and general administration issues meant such massively long delays that poor MiL had to be admitted to hospital from which she never returned. Meanwhile my 'carers assessment' led to me being offered nothing but the phone number of a 'support group'!

Of course, the advantage of direct payments is that you can dictate when a carer comes and what you expect them to do. Round here, there are some really good carer agencies who guarantee that they always send the same carers.

There is also a meals on wheels company that will deliver a meal and sit and chat with the person to ensure they at least start their meal.

Our local Alzheimer's Society has a list of different agencies.

Sorry, I know it's not what you asked but might help you decide.

I suggest you check what the Direct Payment option are in your area, usually you can still use an agency so you are not the employer. If you want to use someone on an individual basis then there are usually options for a third party to undertake the employer HR role doing tax and pay. If you use this option you should get the cost of such a service added to your care allocation. I do know friends who feel Direct Payments work well for them, give them a choice and control of the situation, not possible with other ways of receiving help.

Sorry Kitty - I thought I had said thank you at the beginning of the post. Definitely getting too tired but a bit thank you - the experience of others really helps with there things.

I feel concerned that we would be taking on the role of employer. I think the problem is that this may be the only way of us finding a solution. I looks to me as if the various care companies just cannot afford to work directly for the LA. I can't keep going backwards and forwards as I am at the moment so we need to find a solution somehow.

I don't want mum to go into a home and will somehow keep her in her own home as long as I can but I am begging to wonder if it is possible for community care to actually work.

Sorry, he had not deducted the correct amount of tax by quite a large amount! I knew what I meant!

DS has PIP and had thought that the way they helped him with his PA's PAYE was really good until they told him he had under paid her tax by quite a large amount!