Turned down for Direct Payments

Dainty1976

My son's social worker has turned us down for direct payments.

Is there anything I can do?

dmg24

For what reason?

Dainty1976

on the basis that my house is clean, the kids are fed and well dressed and I'm holding it together (on the surface anyways lol).

Thought those were more child protection issues rather than a reason for receiving DP's.

MrsManda

What your help needs?
Do you think you meet the criteria for direct payments?
I think you can ask for another assessment but you'd need to explain why you think your needs were not assessed properly or your needs have changed since your last assessment

Broken_hearted

Dainty1976 wrote: »

on the basis that my house is clean, the kids are fed and well dressed and I'm holding it together (on the surface anyways lol).

Thought those were more child protection issues rather than a reason for receiving DP's.

Sounds about right. Be careful fighting it as they can turn nasty very quickly.

Dainty1976

MrsManda wrote: »

What your help needs?
Do you think you meet the criteria for direct payments?

According to the Family Worker at my local Surestart and the NAS I do meet the criteria. Even the Social Worker said that we do when she visited.

Needs: Ds (5yrs) is Autistic. Also has Dyspraxia, Hypermobility Syndrome and Sensory Processing Disorder.

I am disabled with high mobility needs.

I am a single mum, with one other child (Dd 2 yrs) who has special needs although undiagnosed as yet, is being seen by OT's for them. Completely alone, no family in country, kids Dad is rarely around and is more a burden when he is, his family not involved because of this.

I wanted DP's to help pay for therapies and/or access activities to widen my sons opportunities and to provide respite for one/two nights a month. I thought thats what they are for!

Penny-Pincher!!

Have you and your son actually been assessed by the council or SS's? A direct payment is just an alternative to manage your own care needs if you don't want the help directly given by care workers etc.

You then have the option to take your care as a DP and manage your own care.

Direct payments are being fizzled out and most are and will be replaced by an individual budget.

You and your son's care needs sound suitable for help and converted to a DP.

Help/care can be given in the way of respite, support, PA's, domestic help (this has been very restricted over the past 2 years), etc.

Have they sent you the decision on paper or just over the phone as you need it written to dispute.

HTH

PP
xx

berniesmaster

i have also just (friday) had a conversation wit a social worker to arrange an appointment and for a chat. i will be honest, i am sturggling daily, also a disabled parent.
the conversation i had was horrid. i was made to feel like i was begging. the sw was abrupt, short, un-friendly, and rudley huffed and puffed thought out our 35min conversation.
i was still unsure exactly what direct payments would be available to help me with, if anything at all, and even at one point, she made a comment that her collegue was sat next to her laughing at our conversation. needless to say, i felt about 2inches big, and totally embarrassed.
if this type of approach is used to "put people off" it certantly has worked, as i really cant put myself through the stress of making a claim with this woman. i would rather struggle.
im sorry to hear you have been turned down.

Dainty1976

Penny-Pincher!! wrote: »

Have you and your son actually been assessed by the council or SS's? A direct payment is just an alternative to manage your own care needs if you don't want the help directly given by care workers etc.

You then have the option to take your care as a DP and manage your own care.

Direct payments are being fizzled out and most are and will be replaced by an individual budget.

You and your son's care needs sound suitable for help and converted to a DP.

Help/care can be given in the way of respite, support, PA's, domestic help (this has been very restricted over the past 2 years), etc.

Have they sent you the decision on paper or just over the phone as you need it written to dispute.

HTH

PP
xx

My son has SW who came round - she has reffered onto adult services for me apparantly but since she took 9 weeks to get back to me and didnt return any calls in the meantime, who knows if its actually been done or how long it'll take.

They have sent a report to me saying no.

I asked straight away for Dp's - should I not have done that then? Should I have let her offer something else first and then turned down in favour of DP's?

Dainty1976

berniesmaster wrote: »

i have also just (friday) had a conversation wit a social worker to arrange an appointment and for a chat. i will be honest, i am sturggling daily, also a disabled parent.
the conversation i had was horrid. i was made to feel like i was begging. the sw was abrupt, short, un-friendly, and rudley huffed and puffed thought out our 35min conversation.
i was still unsure exactly what direct payments would be available to help me with, if anything at all, and even at one point, she made a comment that her collegue was sat next to her laughing at our conversation. needless to say, i felt about 2inches big, and totally embarrassed.
if this type of approach is used to "put people off" it certantly has worked, as i really cant put myself through the stress of making a claim with this woman. i would rather struggle.
im sorry to hear you have been turned down.

Sorry to hear that - Sounds pretty much like my experience too!

hrafndot

-can I make a suggestion; Councils vary widely in the way they operate the various schemes that, by law, they are obliged to run. They further complicate things by re-naming the schemes, more or less annually.

DirectPayments simply means that funds are paid directly into the brand new bank account you set up simply for this purpose; no other payments should go out of this account. You will be responsible for presenting statements for inspection to show that you are conducting it correctly. You may be turned down for Direct payments if you appear to them as if you would not be able to conduct this process.

First thing to do is go to the BBC R4 website for You and Yours, they have beeing doing a lot of items on this subject recently. Send them an email explaining that you need to learn about personalised care, direct payments and items in that area. The Department of Health website is also full of information about the personalisation scheme and personal budgets.

Next; your council will have a separate arms length service for people with disabilities. Make yourself known to them and join their user group. See if there is a branch of the NCFIL near you, they will help you with your self assessment form which you will have to present to your social worker, or if she is having problems with acting in a professional manner, her line manager. They will negotiate with you on your self assessment. This will then have to go before a committee for its agreement.

If you have any problems, ask you social worker for a copy of their complaints procedure.

You will find that this will get a result. If you are still having problems, ask your ward councillor for her support. Also go to CAB and see if yo9u can get their advice on a benefits advisor who will also be able to advise on local social care.

Obviously morale is low and people are worried for their jobs, but that is no excuse for unprofessional behaviour. The rules are still there, you have two children you are responsible for so don't be fobbed off. - good luck