Direct Payments

Direct payments are local council payments for people who have been assessed as needing help from social services, and who would like to arrange and pay for their own care and support services instead of receiving them directly from the local council. Everyone will be offered this option after a social services assessment, and for those people who choose Direct Payments it will give them greater choice and control over the support they receive.

Who Can Receive A Direct Payment?

The following groups of people could receive Direct Payments from KCC:

  • Disabled people of all ages.
  • Parents of disabled children for meet their children’s needs.
  • People with parental responsibility for a disabled child who provide or intend to provide a substantial amount of care on a regular basis for the child.
  • Carers aged 16 and over.

Carers can receive Direct Payments if they provide or intend to provide a substantial amount of care for someone aged 18 or over where the council is satisfied that the person being cared for is eligible to receive community care services. Carers may receive direct payments in respect of services for themselves, but not for services in respect of the 'cared for' person.

The regulations made under the Health and Social Care Act specify that Direct Payments may not be offered to certain people whose liberty to arrange their care is restricted by certain mental health or criminal justice legislation. Information on these groups of people can be provided by your Care Manager on request.

Find out more about Direct Payments

Receiving your Direct Payments

Kent Card

Kent Card is a secure and convenient way of receiving your direct payments. It is an easy way to pay for your support as the Kent Card is a Chip and PIN VISA card which does not need a bank account.

Kent County Council will load your direct payments money onto the card instead of paying it into a bank account. You can then pay for services face to face using your PIN number, over the internet, or on the telephone.

You will get a monthly statement showing all payments made using the card, which you can also access securely online.

If you're interested in receiving your direct payments through the Kent Card contact your care manager. They will then arrange to visit you and will advise you if the companies you want to use will accept the Kent Card. If the company you want to use does not accept the Kent Card we will try to encourage them to sign up to accept VISA payments in the future. Your care manager will also be able to help you complete the application form.

Find out more about the Kent Card

Contact us

Kent Adult Social Services
Brenchley House
County Hall
Maidstone
Kent ME14 1RF

Telephone 08458 247 100

Textphone:
08458 247 905

Envelope social.services @kent.gov.uk

Getting in touch