Guide to direct payments for parents and carers

There are two ways to receive your child's direct payment budget, either a prepaid card (PPC) or into a separate private bank account which is exclusively for the use of the direct payment.

This is to ensure that your direct payment spending is kept separate from other family finances.

You must never use your child's direct payment account for your personal finances, even if you put the money back in later and can provide evidence of this.

1) Prepaid card (PPC)

• the council gives you a prepaid card (like a bank card) and your child's DP money is paid onto this card
• you can pay for services online or by phone
• the council can see your spending and will check it every 6 months
• on occasion, you might need to share receipts or payslips.

2) Private bank account

• you can open a bank account just for the DP (not your normal account)
• no overdrafts allowed (when you spend more money than you have and the bank lets you but then you have to pay extra fees)
• you must send statements and receipts, usually every 6 months. If you don't, your DP may stop.

Further information about payments

The start date of your DP depends on:

• the date agreed at the appropriate funding panel or
• the date after all the workers checks are completed and they start work or
• the date other approved services start.

If your child is in hospital or out of the UK for more than 4 weeks, DP may stop.

Keeping track of payments

• you get paid every 4 weeks in advance
• the money is spread evenly across the year
• you may need to budget if more money is needed eg during school holidays
• some payments might be termly or one-off, if needed.

Spending the money

• only use your prepaid card or DP bank account
• you can pay by cheque, debit card, bank transfer or standing order
• cash payments are not usually allowed.

Unused money

• you can keep up to 8 weeks of DP money in your account
• if there is more than 8 weeks, the council might recover any unspent money in your account
• you can 'top up' your account if a service costs more — but it must be agreed.