Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council

Direct Payments

We are committed to putting every person who needs support at the heart of all that we do and for older people this means being flexible and offering every one who is eligible for social care services the opportunity to direct their own support.

Our self directed support system empowers people to take control and shape their own lives by identifying their own needs and organising their own support to meet those needs in a way that makes sense to them.  This can be achieved through personal choice by either accessing services the council provide, through approved services provided by an independent organisation or through the offer of a direct payment.  

To take the first steps to see if you are eligible for self directed support and for further information about any other Adult Care services please get in touch with our First Contact Team (contact details on this page).

A direct payment is money that Social Services give to you to help you to buy the care services that you have been assessed as needing.

This money is to support independent living, and gives you the control to decide how your assessed care and support will be provided.

Direct Payments gives you more flexibility and choice and is an alternative to other social service provision such as day care, home care and respite care.

It is not a benefit, such as Disability Living Allowance or Attendance Allowance.