DIRECT PAYMENTS
What are direct payments?
Direct payments give people more choice and control over how their care and support is arranged. Instead of the council arranging services directly, the money is paid into a dedicated account so a personal care package can be managed locally.
ILBP provides specialist support to set up and manage direct payment accounts, making sure funds are used in line with care plans and that records are always audit ready.
Request a Call Back
Who can receive direct payments?
Direct payments can be offered to adults, parents and carers who
are eligible for social care support. They are agreed as part of
the care and support planning process and must be used to meet
assessed needs.
Adults with care needs
People with physical or learning disabilities.
Older people who need support at home.
Individuals with mental health needs who receive community support.
Parents & carers
Parents of disabled children receiving children’s services support.
Adult carers with their own support plan.
People using combined or joint packages with other funding.
Managed on someone’s behalf
Where a person lacks capacity, payments can be managed
by a representative.
ILBP can act as a third party to handle the day to day account.
What can direct payments be used for?
Direct payments must be used to meet the outcomes in an individual’s
support plan. Within that, there is usually flexibility about how
support is arranged, as long as it is safe, legal and good value.
Examples of spend
Employing personal assistants (PAs).
Buying support from care agencies or providers.
Short breaks, community activities and support to access
work or education.
What they cannot fund
Everyday living costs such as rent or food.
Anything that is illegal or does not relate to assessed needs.
Large purchases without prior agreement from the local authority.
How ILBP supports direct payment accounts
Many councils and families find that the practical work of managing
direct payment funds can be time consuming. ILBP provides a managed
account service that keeps spending on track while preserving
flexibility for the person.
Setting up dedicated direct payment accounts.
Processing invoices, PA wages and agreed costs.
Monitoring balances and highlighting any concerns.
Producing clear statements to support reviews and audits.
Keeping direct payments simple and audit ready
Local authorities must be able to show that public money is being
used properly. Our processes are designed to make monitoring and
auditing straightforward for both councils and families.
Regular statements showing income, spend categories and
remaining balances.
Clear documentation of agreements and changes to care packages.
Support to respond to audit queries or spot checks.
Key benefits of using ILBP
Reduces admin for direct payment teams and families.
Helps ensure funds are used in line with support plans.
Provides clear records for reviews, audits and safeguarding.
Case studies
Examples of how managed direct payment accounts support people to get the right care in a flexible, accountable way.
No published case studies in this category yet.