Instead of receiving a service provided by social services, so people choose to receive money to buy their own services. For deafblind people this can raise particular challenges, such as managing the accounts with a sensory loss or how to find the right services and support. Please see our page on deafblind people and direct payments for further information.

The new laws will continue to allow people to have direct payments if they choose. Sense believes that direct payments can improve deafblind people’s control over their services, provided they have sufficient budget to purchase the specialist services they require, have support to manage the budget form someone who understands deafblindness, and have a genuine choice about whether to receive a direct payment or a service.

Sense will be working to ensure that the new laws provide for:

• A choice over whether to receive a direct payment
• Maximum flexibility in how that money is spent, provided it is meeting the identified needs
• Support to manage the paperwork and management responsibilities which is appropriate for a deafblind person
• Sufficient budget to have a choice over service provider.