Disability Information UKPlain-language information, rights and support

Direct payments, personal budgets and self-directed support

How direct payments, personal budgets and Scotland's self-directed support options let you have more control over your social care arrangements.

Sample content. This prototype article summarises official UK sources listed at the end of the page. It is information, not legal or medical advice, and what you are entitled to depends on your circumstances.

Jurisdiction
UK-wide
Date last checked
19 June 2026
Date last updated
19 June 2026
Next review due
19 December 2026
Article version
1.0
Review status
Review status: Published and checked

Overview

Once you have been assessed as having eligible social care needs, you can usually choose to receive the money to arrange your own support (a direct payment) instead of the council or trust arranging services for you directly.

In England and Wales, this is described in terms of a personal budget, which can be taken as a direct payment, arranged by the council, or a mix of both.

Scotland has a legal right to choose between four self-directed support options: a direct payment, choosing and directing your own support with the council still holding the budget, the council arranging support on your behalf, or a mix of these.

Northern Ireland also offers direct payments, allowing people to arrange and manage their own care and support with the money the trust would otherwise have spent.

Common barriers people describe

  • Complicated paperwork, payroll and employment responsibilities if you employ a personal assistant directly.
  • Uneven information from some councils about the full range of options, sometimes defaulting people towards commissioned services.
  • Underspend or overspend concerns causing anxiety about being asked to repay money or having a budget reduced.
  • Difficulty finding personal assistants in some areas, especially rural areas or where pay rates are low.

Practical support

  • Ask your social worker or care manager about the personal budget or self-directed support options available to you at the care planning stage, not just after the plan is finished.
  • Many areas have a direct payment support service or 'payroll bureau' that can help with contracts, payroll, tax and insurance if you employ staff directly.
  • You do not have to manage everything yourself; you can nominate someone else, such as a family member, or use a user-controlled trust or a third-party organisation to manage the payment for you.
  • Keep records of how you spend a direct payment, as councils can ask to see how it has been used to meet your assessed needs.

Your rights

  • In England, Wales and Scotland you have a legal right to request a direct payment if you are eligible for and want one, subject to some safeguards, for example about your capacity to manage it, with support.
  • The council must satisfy itself the direct payment will be used to meet your needs safely and appropriately, but cannot refuse simply because it would rather commission services itself.
  • You can ask for a review of the amount of your personal budget if you think it is not enough to meet your assessed needs.

Possible benefits and financial support

These are things you may want to check. Nothing here is a decision, and entitlement always depends on your circumstances.

  • Direct payments and personal budgets are not counted as income for means-tested benefits purposes when used to meet your assessed care needs.
  • You may still need a financial assessment to determine how much, if anything, you contribute towards the cost of your care, separate from how you choose to receive the support.

Workplace adjustments to consider

    Education adjustments to consider

      Getting healthcare that works for you

        Related rights topics

        Sources

        Every fact on this page comes from the sources below. Follow the links for the full, official version.

        Update history

        • Version 1.0 — 19 June 2026

          First published sample article on direct payments and self-directed support across the UK.

          Approved by: Editorial reviewer (sample)

        Report outdated information

        If something on this page looks wrong or out of date, please tell us. Reports go to a human editor. We never change legal or benefits guidance automatically.

        What kind of problem is it?

        Please say which part of “Direct payments, personal budgets and self-directed support” is wrong, and include a source link if you have one.