Direct Payments for a short break
If you think you or a relative needs a short break you should mention it to your social worker at your annual review. If you have not had an annual review or do not have a social worker, get in contact with us.
A social worker will be assigned to you and they will arrange a visit. If you think your case is urgent, you must tell them when you first ring up. At the visit the social worker will carry out an assessment. This is to work out if you are entitled to receive a direct payment for Short Breaks.
How much money will I receive to pay for the short break?
The amount you get will depend on your care needs assessment and agreed in your care and support plan. Your direct payment for short break will be paid as an annual payment so that you can use it when needed each year. A review of your care needs assessment will need to be completed if you have any changes to your care /or Short Break needs.
The social worker will confirm if you are entitled to a direct payment for short term break. Once they have done so, they will identify the amount of time you need over a 12-month period. They will then calculate your personal budget based on this.
The calculated costs of your Short Break will be paid as a lump sum for the year. This will be paid into your direct payments bank account, net of any cost towards your care you may have to make.
If you do not already receive direct payments, our Direct Payments Team can help you open a dedicated AllPay account. You will then be able to plan how to use the money to pay for your Short Breaks over a 12 month period.
Contributions towards this payment
Short Breaks are no different to other services provided by the council and everyone will have a financial assessment. This will identify how much you will need to pay. You will pay this by way of a client contribution. Any contribution you have been assessed to pay will be deducted from the direct payment before you receive it. This means that you will need to add your contribution to the money you receive.
Automatic renewals
Payments are automatically renewed each year. You will need a review with a social worker to confirm that you continue to need short breaks, if your needs have changed.
Have you previously received a payment each year, but this hasn’t automatically renewed? If so, our Direct payment Officer will discuss this with you at your next Direct Payment review. They will then arrange the direct payment for you for another year, if your entitlement for Short Breaks hasn’t changed.
Keeping information about what was spent
You will need to retain copies of any invoices and receipts for the care and support you have purchased.