Take Control of Your Care

Direct Payments — Your Care, Your Way

Direct Payments give you the freedom and funding to arrange your own care and support, exactly how and when you need it. We're here to help you every step of the way.

Talk to Our Team How It Works
What Are Direct Payments?

Support that puts you in control

The Disability Resource Centre provides a wide range of services to help you live independently at home. A Direct Payment is a support system that allows people with individual needs to live at home and arrange their own care.

Instead of your local council arranging and providing services for you, they give you money to arrange and pay for support yourself. This might include employing a personal assistant, paying a care agency, or purchasing equipment and services to meet your assessed needs.

With Direct Payments, you can choose exactly who provides your support and how your care is delivered — allowing you to maintain independence and make choices that best suit your lifestyle.

How Direct Payments work:

  • Your local council assesses your care needs
  • You're offered Direct Payments if you're eligible
  • You receive funding and manage it yourself (or with support)
  • You arrange and pay for your own care and support
  • You can change your support as your needs change

Take Control of Your Care

Direct Payments empower you to:

  • Choose your own care provider or personal assistant
  • Decide when and how you receive support
  • Build a care package tailored to you
  • Make changes quickly and easily
  • Maintain your independence and dignity
Our Services How We Support You with Direct Payments

Payroll Management

We handle all payroll administration for your personal assistants — including wages, tax, National Insurance, and pension contributions — so you don't have to worry about the paperwork.

Find Out More

Managed Accounts

Our managed account service handles the financial administration of your Direct Payment, removing the administrative burden while keeping you in full control of your care decisions.

Learn More

PA Recruitment

We help you find, interview, and recruit the right personal assistants. Our team provides advice, support, and access to a bank of local PAs looking for work with Direct Payment recipients.

Find a PA

Ongoing Support

Our advisors provide ongoing guidance on employment law, contracts, training resources, and your responsibilities as an employer — so you always feel confident managing your care.

Get Support

500+

people supported with Direct Payments each year

35+

years of experience in independent living support

Free

all our advice and guidance is completely free

Getting Started
Your Journey to Direct Payments
1

Contact Us

Get in touch with our Direct Payments team to discuss your situation.

2

Needs Assessment

Your local council carries out a care needs assessment to determine eligibility.

3

Receive Funding

Once approved, your Direct Payment is set up and funds are made available.

4

Arrange Care

Choose your care provider, PA, or services — we help you find the right people.

5

Ongoing Support

We stay by your side with payroll, managed accounts, and ongoing advice.

Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers to common questions about Direct Payments.

A Direct Payment is money given to you by your local council to arrange and pay for your own care and support, instead of the council arranging services for you. It gives you control over who supports you and how.
Direct Payments are available to adults with assessed care needs, disabled people, people with mental health needs, carers, and parents of disabled children. Your local council will carry out an assessment to determine your eligibility.
You can use Direct Payments to employ a personal assistant, pay for care agency services, purchase specialist equipment, fund day activities, and more — as long as it meets your assessed care needs.
You can manage the money yourself using a dedicated bank account, or use our Managed Account service where we handle the financial administration on your behalf. We'll help you keep accurate records and report to your council.
If you employ a personal assistant directly, you will take on employer responsibilities. However, our team can support you with all aspects of this, including payroll, contracts, and employment law guidance — making it straightforward and manageable.