{"id":7427,"date":"2026-09-15T15:27:02","date_gmt":"2026-09-15T15:27:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.visiting-angels.co.uk\/cheshire-east\/?p=7427"},"modified":"2026-09-15T15:48:27","modified_gmt":"2026-09-15T15:48:27","slug":"direct-payments-for-care","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.visiting-angels.co.uk\/cheshire-east\/direct-payments-for-care\/","title":{"rendered":"Direct payments: choose your own carer with council money"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Direct payments: using council money to pick your own carer<\/b><\/h1>

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Quick summary<\/b><\/h3>

If the council agrees to fund your care, you can take the money as a direct payment and choose who provides it, rather than accepting whichever provider the council allocates. Most families are never told this exists. You can also top up privately if the service you want costs more than the council’s rate.<\/span><\/p>

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What is a direct payment?<\/b><\/h3>

Cheshire East describes it plainly: a cash payment made to you by the council so that you can buy the care and support you need yourself. It is available to people who have been assessed as needing care and support under the Care Act 2014 (<\/span>Cheshire East Council<\/span><\/a>).<\/span><\/p>

The alternative is that the council arranges the care for you, which is the default and what most people end up with by not being offered anything else or knowing about direct payments.<\/span><\/p>

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Why does it matter which way you take it?<\/b><\/h3>

Because of who turns up at the door.<\/span><\/p>

If the council arranges the care, you will generally get a provider that holds a contract with that council, not necessarily you. If a provider changes its rounds, your visit times change with it.<\/span><\/p>

With a direct payment, you choose the provider. You can choose one the council does not contract with. You can employ someone directly as a personal assistant. And if the service you want costs more than the council’s rate, you can top up the difference yourself.<\/span><\/p>

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Council arranges it<\/strong><\/p><\/th>

Direct payment<\/strong><\/p><\/th><\/tr><\/thead>

Who chooses the provider<\/span><\/p><\/td>

The council<\/span><\/p><\/td>

You<\/span><\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Choice of provider<\/span><\/p><\/td>

Contracted providers only<\/span><\/p><\/td>

Anyone, including a personal assistant<\/span><\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Topping up privately<\/span><\/p><\/td>

Generally not<\/span><\/p><\/td>

Yes<\/span><\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Admin and record keeping<\/span><\/p><\/td>

The council<\/span><\/p><\/td>

You, a nominee, or a managed account<\/span><\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Employer responsibilities<\/span><\/p><\/td>

None<\/span><\/p><\/td>

Only if you employ someone directly<\/span><\/p><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>

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How does the money work?<\/b><\/h3>

The needs assessment produces a personal budget, which is the cost of meeting the assessed needs. The financial assessment produces your contribution. The council pays the balance into a direct payment account, and you pay your assessed contribution into the same account. The two together buy the care.<\/span><\/p>

So a direct payment is not free money and it does not change what you contribute. It changes what you can buy with it.<\/span><\/p>

You will need to keep records of what the money is spent on, because the council audits it. Spending has to match what is agreed in the support plan.<\/span><\/p>

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What can it be spent on?<\/b><\/h3>

Anything that meets the assessed needs and is agreed in the support plan. In practice that commonly includes:<\/span><\/p>