Direct Payments
The grant conditions under which the Supporting People programme grant is paid sets out which services may and may not be supported.
Supporting People money cannot be used to make a Direct Payment (as defined and covered by Social Services legislation), as Supporting People money must not be used to provide community care services covered by the Direct Payments legislation.
However, if an individual is already receiving a direct payment for their community care service, the council may make a similar, mirror payment to that individual for the housing related support services they receive under the Supporting People programme, using Supporting People grant monies.
In addition, the Supporting People grant conditions allow payments to be made directly to an individual where the payment is made in respect of service charges payable as a condition of a lease.
We would encourage social services and Supporting People teams to work closely together to ensure that vulnerable people receive the care and housing related support that they need in order to live independently in their homes.
For more information on direct payments, go to
www.dh.gov.uk/PolicyAndGuidance/OrganisationPolicy/FinanceAndPlanning/DirectPayments/fs/en