Direct Payments give you control over your own care budget — rather than having the council arrange care for you. Here is how they work, who qualifies, and what Ekvarta clients say about using them.
Direct Payments (DPs) are one of the most powerful tools available to people who need social care. Instead of having the council commission care services on your behalf — using providers they have contracted — Direct Payments give you the funding directly (into a separate bank account), allowing you to choose who provides your care and how it is delivered. This guide explains everything you need to know.
A Direct Payment is money from your local council (or, in some cases, from the NHS for continuing healthcare) that you use to buy the care and support you have been assessed as needing. The funding is paid into a separate bank account designated for this purpose, and you are responsible for using it to meet your assessed care needs.
Direct Payments are available under the Care Act 2014 to anyone who has been assessed as having eligible care needs and has been means-tested to determine their contribution. If the council determines you are entitled to funded care, you have the right to receive that as a Direct Payment rather than council-arranged services.
You can request Direct Payments if:
Direct Payments are available to:
The amount of a Direct Payment is based on the council's assessment of what it would cost to meet your eligible care needs — this is called the Personal Budget. If you contribute toward your care costs (based on your income and savings after a financial assessment), your contribution is deducted from the Personal Budget and the remainder is paid as a Direct Payment.
The council must give you enough to purchase care that genuinely meets your assessed needs. If you believe the Personal Budget is insufficient, you can challenge it.
Direct Payment funds must be held in a separate bank account used only for this purpose. This is a legal requirement — mixing DP funds with your own money is not permitted and can lead to repayment demands and loss of the Direct Payment.
The account does not need to be a special type of account — a standard current account opened specifically for this purpose is fine. Many councils will ask you to submit regular statements to show how the funds have been spent.
You can spend Direct Payments on anything that meets your assessed care needs and that you and your council have agreed is appropriate. Common uses include:
Ekvarta works with Direct Payment clients. If you are using a Direct Payment to fund home care, you can use it to pay for Ekvarta's services in exactly the same way as private funding — the main difference is that the payment comes from your designated DP account rather than your own funds.
We can provide a schedule of charges and invoices in a format that meets council requirements, and we are accustomed to working with care plans. Contact us to discuss how this works in practice.
If the administrative responsibilities feel daunting, councils often fund a support organisation (a DP support service) to help you manage the account and paperwork. Ask your social worker whether this is available in your area.
Contact your local council's adult social care team. If you have already had an assessment and been found eligible for funded care, you can skip to step 2.
When your care plan and Personal Budget are agreed, tell your social worker that you want to receive your funding as a Direct Payment. This is your legal right — the council cannot refuse without good reason.
Open a current account specifically for the Direct Payment. You will need to provide the account details to the council.
Use the funding to arrange care from a provider of your choice — such as Ekvarta — or to employ a personal assistant. Ensure the care you arrange matches your agreed care plan.
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