Managing your money

Direct Payments

These are cash payments made to you to let you organise and buy your own social care services, which you have been assessed as needing by Social Services. This may give you more control to make your own decisions. You can request a Direct Payment if you are aged 16 or 17 and have a disability. For more information click here (PDF), speak to your Social Services worker, or contact Philip Snowball (Direct Payments Manager) on Tel: (0191) 566 1825

For more detailed information download one of the Social Services guides below:

Click here to download 'Employment of Personal Assistant' guide.

Click here to download 'Employment of Personal Assistant Fact Sheet'.

Click here to download 'Provision via Care Agency' guide.

Direct Payments Guides.

The Department of Health have produced two guides to using Direct Payments. To view them click here (234k pdf) and here(67k pdf) .

In the Driving Seat and My Money, My Way Two Direct Payments Resources from SCOPE

Through DfES funding, SCOPE have produced a series of resources on raising awareness of Direct Payments. In the Driving Seat is a guide for parents and is accompanied by My Money, My Way, specifically targeted at young people.

For further information please click here

http://www.scope.org.uk/issues/directpayments/    

Education Maintenance Allowance

From September 2004 students who stay on in Education after Year 11 (post-16) will be able to claim Education Maintenance Allowance. This is a weekly payment made to the student worth up to £30 per week, to help towards the costs of continuing education such as books, transport, equipment etc… The level of allowance granted to a student is dependent upon the family income, but any allowance awarded does not affect the family or young person’s benefits.

For more information:

Tel: 080 810 16 2 19
Ask your Connexions PA, or your school or college
Visit the website at www.ema.dfes.gov.uk
Click here to read a leaflet about it (87k pdf)

Welfare Rights Service
The Welfare Rights Service can give advice and information about a wide range of issues which may affect you. One important thing they can offer is advice and expertise in completing Disability Living Allowance application forms and other benefits information.

They offer welfare benefits advice in the Ford, Pallion and Pennywell areas via their outreach venues. They also provide help over the telephone and do home visits for the elderly and infirm.

They can also provide Information Days or attend similar events to provide information to larger groups.

The service is free, confidential and independent.

Please contact them for further information.  They can be contacted on 0191 514 2930 Monday to Friday.  Alternatively e-mail them on outreachwelfarerights@btconnect.com

For more information click here

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