Direct payments for children and young people

Direct payments are money we give you to help meet your child or young person’s assessed needs. They let you arrange and manage your own care and support instead of getting services from us.

Why choose direct payments

• Choice and control: You decide who provides support, when, and how
• Flexibility: Use payments in a way that suits your child’s needs
• Financial neutrality: Direct payments are not income and do not affect benefits

Who can get direct payments

You may be able to get direct payments if:

• your child or young person is 16 or over and has a disability
• you are a parent or carer of a child or young person with assessed needs

Payments can be used for support identified in:

• a social care assessment
• an education, health and care (EHC) plan
• a continuing healthcare assessment (if applicable)

What you can use direct payments for

Examples include:

• employing a personal assistant or using an approved care agency
• after-school clubs or holiday play schemes for a disabled child
• residential overnight short breaks (up to 120 days per year, with agreement)
• services for short breaks (with team manager approval)
• special educational provision in an EHC plan

Conditions and restrictions

You must be able to manage the payment, either on your own or with support.
Payments must meet your child or young person's assessed needs and be in their best interests.

You cannot use direct payments to:

• pay a spouse, partner or close relative living in the same home (unless we agree it is necessary)
• employ someone without a valid Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check
• employ someone under a drug or alcohol treatment order, youth rehabilitation order, or released on licence
• fund permanent residential care (short-term breaks are allowed within limits)