Direct Payments Scheme
As a result of the Community Care (Direct Payments) Act 1996, the Shetland Islands Council Social Care Service will offer cash payments from 1st April 1998 to people instead of arranging community care services to meet their assessed needs. When the Council offers someone money in this way it is known as 'Direct Payment'.
Direct Payments can be made to a person as an alternative to community care services or as a combination of services and cash.
This payment is not extra income to spend as you choose. The money must be used to purchase services for yourself to meet your agreed community care needs. However, these services cannot be purchased from the Shetland Islands Council.
Direct Payments will not be regarded as adding income for the calculation of income related social security benefits.
For more information please see our leaflets page and go to the leaflet entitled "Direct Payments Scheme" or contact the Duty Social Worker:
Education and Social Care Department
92 St Olaf Street
Lerwick
Shetland
ZE1 0ES
Tel: 01595 744400
Self-directed Support
'Directing Your Own Support' is a new Scottish Government publication - a User's guide to self-directed support in Scotland which offers advice to people who are thinking about being in charge of their own social care support, or who are already doing so, but have questions about the process.
To access the guide please click on the link below: