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1. Introduction and key points
This Statistics Release presents the latest figures for Self-directed Support (Direct Payments). The latest figures apply to payments made during the period 1 st April 2007 to 31 st March 2008 under section 12B of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968. People who receive Self-directed Support (Direct Payments) are able to purchase and manage for themselves some or all of the care they have been assessed as needing. They are one way of increasing the flexibility, choice, and control people have over the care they receive, so that they can live more independently in their communities. A client may have more than one payment during the year.
Self-directed Support (Direct Payments) have been available to disabled people aged 18-64 since April 1997, and to disabled people aged 65 and over since July 2000. Since 21 December 2001 they have also been available to disabled 16 and 17 year olds and disabled parents for children's services. From 1 June 2003 it became a duty for local authorities to offer direct payments in place of providing services to all eligible disabled people aged 16 and over and to parents (or those with parental responsibility) for disabled children aged 15 and under.
The information is derived from returns made to the Scottish Government by Scottish Local Authorities. The background information note in section 4 conveys further details relating to the collection of Self-directed Support (Direct Payments) data. Figures may not sum due to incomplete data.
Chart 1: Number of people receiving Self-directed Support (Direct Payments) packages, 2001-2008
- The number of people in receipt of Self-directed Support (Direct Payments) has increased from 207 in 2001 to 2605 in the year to 31st March 2008.
- 50% of the people receiving Self-directed Support (Direct Payments) in 2008 had a physical disability. 25% of people who received Self-directed Support (Direct Payments) were aged 65 or over, compared to only 7 per cent in 2001.
- The value of payments has increased by almost £27.3 million, from £2.1 million in 2001 to around £29.4 million in 2008.
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