Another Direct payments question?

johnsmi

Hi folks,


I understand that if we get Direct payments for out autistic son that means we are in effect employing someone as employers, so I am am a bit confused as to whether this could affect,


1 any benefits we receive such as ESA and dla?


2 would we need to take out liability insurance for the person receiving direct payments?


Thanks for any advice.
John

nannytone_2

it doesnt affect other benefit and yes, you will need liability insurance

cattermole

Nanny is correct.

A direct payment for care is not to be confused in anyway whatsoever with the way the DWP use it when making payments for benefits. Unfortunate they started using the term after it was used on the care context. .

The money is not income and it can only be used for meeting the assessed care and social needs of the person/child with a disability.

See my post on the other thread about insurance and why its worth the enhanced premium for employers liability insurance
.

Yes you are an employer in your own right if you employ someone and you have to register with HMRC. Your locsl DP support service should be able to help you with all this and guide ypu through the employment process.

Cyclamen

I second the above.

My bank account for direct payments is called 'DP - care' and although i've always declared the money it has never been used for calculating finances.

You can also choose to use a care agency, employ direct or mix and match on direct payments if social worker agrees which can help when you are organising things.

I also recomend enhanced insurance.. i use FISH

cattermole

You don't actually need permission ftom a social worker on miximg and matching if DP truly was what it should be. Although it never hurts to get the Social worker onside.

However the sad reality is its become a cheap option for authorities because they pay a set lower rate per hour assuming DP users will employ direct ie £8.50 an hour in our authority (which used to be £10.46 in 2004!) and you won't get an agency at that rate per hour.

It should be paid at the same rate it would cost to get the service from an agency but rarely does that happen in today's climate