What is a direct payment
A direct payment means that we pay your personal budget directly to you or someone acting on your behalf.
This payment will come from Suffolk County Council. The money is paid every four weeks in advance. We will pay the money into a pre-payment card account that we will set up for you.
The pre-payment card account is used just like a normal bank account except that you will not be able to withdraw cash or make payments by cheque from the account.
What can a direct payment be used for?
You can only use this payment for goods and services that we have agreed in your care and support plan. These may include:
- care services from an agency or a micro-enterprise
- employing someone to help you, such as a personal assistant
- using an agency to employ someone for you
- paying to attend a day care service
- paying for some respite care services
- paying for leisure activities
- buying equipment to help you (although servicing and maintenance remains your responsibility)
You are not able to use your direct payment to pay for:
- permanent care in a residential or nursing care home
- ordinary household expenses such as utility bills, rent or mortgage payments or food
- gambling
- anything illegal
- anything that does not contribute to meeting your needs or achieving the outcomes that you have agreed in your care and support plan
- employing a close family member, unless the local authority has agreed to this.
Setting up a direct payment
When you decide that you would like a direct payment, we will ask you to:
- work with us to develop and agree outcomes in your care and support plan
- agree to the terms and conditions and sign a direct payment agreement
- give us some details so we are able to set up your pre-payment card account.
You will need to be able to understand the agreement that you are being asked to sign. The person from SCC who is helping you to arrange your care should explain this in more detail to you. If you are not able to agree to or manage a direct payment, there are other options available which will be discussed with you to ensure that you still have the option of a direct payment.
How is the direct payment calculated?
Direct payments are calculated using standard rates which align to National Living Wage and change annually.
If you choose to use services that charge more than the standard rates you will be expected to meet the shortfall privately, in addition to any assessed financial contribution.
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2026-27 hourly rate |
| To employ a Personal Assistant |
A direct payment support provider can support the calculation of tax, national insurance and other on-costs, which are paid in addition to this rate |
£14.10 |
| To pay a self-employed Personal Assistant (including Community Catalysts) |
The self-employed Personal Assistant calculates their tax and national insurance (which are included in the this rate) and should provide evidence of their self-employed status |
£18.81 |
| To pay a support provider (care agency) |
Adult Social Care will pay the standard commissioning rates used within the local area |
Speak to your Social Care practitioner about these rates |
| To pay for other goods or resources |
When completing your care and support plan you should detail these costs for consideration by the Local Authority as to whether these should be included in the direct payment |
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You will need to pay any assessed financial contribution into the Pre-Paid Card Account (the easiest way to do this is via a standing order).
There is an expectation that no more than eight weeks-worth of direct payment will be in the account at any time. Anything above this will be considered surplus and must be returned to the Local Authority,
Managing direct payments
You can find much more information about direct payments in our booklets. Please note that due to some recent policy changes these booklets are in the process of being amended:
