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Direct Payments for Care - Anyone had these?

(39 Posts)
Seaside22 Fri 22-Dec-17 15:33:23

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 .

ninathenana Fri 22-Dec-17 11:57:15

flowers GracesGran

GracesGranMK2 Fri 22-Dec-17 11:36:20

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.

ninathenana Fri 22-Dec-17 10:45:37

DS's case worker suggested he applied for DP to cover the cost of attending an employment scheme which costs £40 a day tchshock 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.

GracesGranMK2 Fri 22-Dec-17 10:26:29

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.

Seaside22 Fri 22-Dec-17 09:46:00

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.

Jane10 Fri 22-Dec-17 07:58:47

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'!

kittylester Fri 22-Dec-17 07:15:31

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.

Hilltopgran Thu 21-Dec-17 23:15:57

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.

GracesGranMK2 Thu 21-Dec-17 23:00:43

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.

GracesGranMK2 Thu 21-Dec-17 22:58:37

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.

kittylester Thu 21-Dec-17 17:31:09

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

kittylester Thu 21-Dec-17 17:29:51

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!

GracesGranMK2 Thu 21-Dec-17 14:53:33

My mother needs extra care and, interestingly, while the said they would put in emergency care I am still going backwards and forward. It seems no hope of getting anything until the first week in January and then the carers on their provider list may not have any capacity.

They have suggested that we could choose to use our current carers or we may have "direct payments". I can see straight away the issues of becoming an employer but does anyone have any experience with doing this?