Factsheet: Types of direct payment account

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Summary

April 2025 (FS12)

There are three ways to manage direct payments. This factsheet explains a bit more about them, so you can choose the right way for you.

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Client managed account

What is it?

We can pay money into a ‘client managed account’ and you can manage your own direct payments. You can then use this money to pay personal assistants and care agency bills. It is secure and can be very convenient.

How does it work?

If you choose this option, we will open a pre-paid card account for you. You will get a card through the post which looks like a debit card, and we will pay your direct payments into the account every four weeks. If you pay towards the cost of your support, you should pay your client contribution into the account too by setting up a weekly or four-weekly standing order.

You can use your pre-paid card account to pay for your care and support in the same way that you would use a normal bank account. You can make payments online, on the phone, by direct debit, standing order and by chip and PIN. You can also have a trusted person to help you run your account called a direct payment nominee.

You can check how much is in your account at any time, by using internet banking or calling the customer service helpline.

Things to note

We can see your transactions online, to make sure your direct payments are being used to pay for care that meets your needs (as outlined in your support plan).
You cannot withdraw cash. If you need to make cash payments, contact us.
If your card is lost or stolen, call the customer service helpline. Your old card will be frozen and a new card will be sent to you.
There is no overdraft, so you can only spend the money in your direct payment card account.

East Sussex County Council (ESCC) managed account

What is it?

If you are using direct payments to buy home care or day care services, or if you have a self-employed personal assistant (PA), you may want to choose an ESCC managed account.

How does it work?

We pay your direct payments into an account that the Direct Payments team manage for you. If you pay towards your care and support, you can set up a direct debit to make these payments.

The Direct Payments team will let you know if there are any problems with your account. You can request an account statement at any time.

Getting us to pay the bills for you does not cost anything. You do lose a bit of day-to-day control over your budget, but some people like this as it means less paperwork and hassle for them than a client managed account.

Things to note

To have the bills for your care paid, you should ask your chosen care agency to:

send a copy of the 4-weekly bill to direct.payments.invoices@eastsussex.gov.uk for the Direct Payments team to pay
send you a copy of the bill to check it is correct. Let the Direct Payments team know if it isn’t
provide your bills using ‘real time telephone monitoring’ if they can. It uses your phone to record the amount of time the agency has worked. It means you will only be charged for the actual hours of care you have received

Support service managed account

What is it?

You may want to use a support service managed account if you use direct payments to pay for lots of different services. For example, employing a personal assistant, paying wages, tax bills, insurance, expenses, and other care agency bills.

You will have to pay for this from your direct payment. Your social care worker will make sure this cost is included in your weekly direct payment.

How does it work?

You pay a company to manage your direct payments for you. They will set up your account and pay your bills. We will pay in your direct payments and you will pay in your client contribution, if you have one.

Your social care worker can help you find a good company. The guide price is £10.50 per week.

Things to note

The company managing your account will let you know if there are any problems and should send you regular statements.
They will monitor what your direct payments are used for and share it with us.
There is no payroll service included. So it will pay wage and tax bills, but it won’t calculate the amounts for you.
Terms and conditions can vary between providers. They may charge different amounts, so it’s important to understand what is being offered before you choose a provider.

If you have more questions, ask your social care worker. They can also talk to you about organisations that provide this service.