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Direct Payments can mean 2 things.
 1. Instead of using an order book to get your benefits, they are paid straight into a bank account or post office account. Banks call this a direct payment.
2. Direct Payments also means money Social Services can give you. You must spend it on support that Social Services agree you need. You can use it to employ someone.
This is the Direct Payment we mean on this website.
How can these Direct Payments help?
 A Direct Payment is money given to you by Social Services.
It is given to you instead of someone from a care agency providing your care.
You can spend the money to employ the personal assistant you choose.
You can use the money to do things you would like in your community.
 Before being given a Direct Payment you must have a Community Care Assessment from Adult Social Services.
More on Community Care Assessments.
 Adult Social Services will tell you how much money you can have.
They will tell you what you can spend it on.
You can look after the money in your own bank account.
You can ask someone you trust to help you do this.
OR
 Independent Living Norfolk can look after the money for you.
They can pay people you employ.
They can make sure all the tax is correct.
 They will make sure you are a good employer.
They can make sure you spend your money properly.
You must sign to agree you will spend the money properly on your care.
What is an Individual Budget?
 An Individual Budget is money given to you by Social Services.
It is given to you to help you be independent.
You can choose what you would like to do with the money.
 You will have to answer some questions about your life.
You will be told how much money you can have for a year.
Then you do your Support Plan to say how you want to spend the money.
You can have help to do your plan.
Social Services have to agree with your Support Plan.
You must sign to agree you will follow your Support Plan.
You can look after the money in your own bank account.
You can ask someone you trust to help you do this.
OR
Independent Living Norfolk can look after the money for you.
They can pay people you employ.
They can make sure all the tax is correct.
They will make sure you are a good employer.
They can make sure you spend your money properly.
 You can get more information from Independent Living Norfolk
www.ncodp.org.uk/iln
Phone 01508 491222
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