Direct payments and ESA

Banjybob

Do local authority direct payments affect ESA payments. Any advice I would be grateful for, thank you.

nannytone_2

no they don't.
it is advisable though to keep everything separate, and either have an account exclusive for the direct payments or use the services of a payroll company that offer a managed account that you have no access to

Cyclamen

Nannytone is correct direct payments do not effect any means assessed benefits.

I strongly reccomend keepig good records and having a separate bank account for them (my county insisits on this). My bank account is labelled direct payments and i pay all wages via bank transfer.

Make sure you declare the account as it could look dodgy if you don't..i just write on the forms and statement that it is direct payment money from soc services and can only be spent on my carers wages/careplan.

I have not had anyone query in the last few years .. it seems they all have some understanding of the direct payment system now...