A direct payment is an amount of money you receive from Barking and Dagenham so that you can arrange your own care and support. Direct payments give you flexibility and control over how care is provided.

By taking a direct payment, you are responsible for finding the care you want and paying for it. Support and advice is available to help you with this. How you use your direct payment has to be agreed in your Support Plan and there are rules on what it can and cannot be spent on.

You may be required to put some of your own money towards the cost of your care, in addition to the direct payment, depending on your income and savings. Find out more about this on our Care and support charging policy page.

If you currently get support from adult social care and are interested in getting a direct payment, please contact the Adult Intake Team at the council on 020 8227 2915 or intaketeam@lbbd.gov.uk. In some circumstances, we may decide that a direct payment is not the appropriate option. If this is the case, we will give you a reason for this decision.