In October 2022, the then Minister for Health in Northern Ireland, Robin Swann, announced an additional £7.1m for Social Care Direct Payments.
Direct Payments are one option available under Self-Directed Support (SDS), allowing people to arrange and pay for their own care and support services instead of receiving them directly from their local Trust.
This additional funding will allow disabled people who directly employ Personal Assistants using their Direct Payment to increase their hourly rates.
At ILF Scotland, we are discussing options with our Sponsor Team at the Department of Health to increase the hourly rate of ILF funded Personal Assistants. We will write to those recipients affected as soon as we are able.
