Paying for Care - Direct Payments

Do I need an assessment from the Council?

If you’re going to pay for your own care, you don’t need to contact the Council first.  You can contact us directly to make all the arrangements for your care at home.

To get help paying for domiciliary care you will need to have an assessment from the social services team at Buckinghamshire Council.

What are Personal Budgets?

If you’ve had a needs assessment by Buckinghamshire Council, your personal budget is the amount of money they will pay to meet those social care needs.

You can ask the Council to manage this personal budget for you, have it paid to your care provider, or have it paid directly to you (or someone you choose).  This is called a Direct Payment.

What are Direct Payments?

You can have any funding paid to you, so that you can choose your care provider and how your needs are met in the way that suits you best.  This option should be discussed with you during your assessment.

If I’m eligible for financial support, does the Council have to choose my care provider?

No, you have the right to choose who provides your care. This is a legal right under the Care Act 2014 and will be made clear to you during the assessment process.

Will a Direct Payment cover the full cost of my chosen care?

It may not, as the hourly rate paid by the Council may not reflect the cost of care on the open market. If you have any concerns please get in touch.

Can I pay the difference if a Direct Payment doesn’t cover the cost?

You can, this is known as topping up and we have supported many customers with these "split-funded" care packages. Please contact our helpful and knowledgeable team if you would like any more information.