Standard direct payment rates

Standard direct payments rates

The council has identified standard direct payment rates for specific types of service, which will be reviewed annually. The standard payment rates are designed to provide a guide as to the potential cost of a type of service, but all direct payments will be created and reviewed on an individual customer basis, to identify the best way to meet their outcomes.

The standard rates identified to date are:

Direct Payment rate
£17.75 per hour

Day Services
Rate per activity £54.43
Rate per activity with one-to-one support £148.89

Buying services that are more expensive than the standard rates

The purchase of services that are more expensive than the rates used to calculate the direct payment may be paid by a voluntary top up.

Any additional costs must be paid into the direct payment account from a different account.
The person, their nominated or Suitable Person will still have to pay any customer contribution which has been identified.

If any voluntary top up becomes unaffordable, the council will not be responsible for paying any additional costs and may offer an alternative option.

Considerations in applying standard rates

The council has a duty to ensure that the amount of money offered is enough to buy support to meet assessed eligible needs.

Any variation from the council’s standard rates will be considered on an individual basis, for example if there is limited availability of services able to meet the person’s needs and those available cost more than the budget rates.

In considering an appropriate rate the council will look at fair comparison rates for similar services. The council will consider its responsibility for fair treatment of people with care and support needs and managing public money when making any decision to agree to pay above standard rates.