AQW 49347/11-16

Ms Claire Sugden
Independent
East Londonderry

Tabled Date: 01/10/2015
Answered On Date: 23/03/2016
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety whether individual policies exist within each Health and Social Trust to facilitate direct payments for the care of (i) children; and (ii) adults.

Answer:

The Carers and Direct Payments Act (Northern Ireland) 2002 makes direct payments available to:

Disabled people to whom section 1(1) of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons(NI) Act 1978 applies aged 16 or over;

Those assessed as needing services under the Health and Personal Social Services (NI) Order 1972;

Parents of disabled children;

Disabled parents;

Carers; and

16 and 17 year old carers assessed for services under the Children Order (NI) 1995.

My Department issued the following overarching guidance to Health and Social Care (HSC) Board and Trusts in order to assist the HSC in implementation and the administration of an effective direct payment scheme. This guidance applies to all of the aforementioned groups and can be accessed via the attached link: http://www.dhsspsni.gov.uk/direct_payments_legislation_and_guidance_for_boards_and_trusts.pdf