Direct Payments for adults in Shropshire

Important Information: How your Direct Payments information is used to help prevent fraud

If you receive Direct Payments to manage your care and support, we want to let you know how your information is used to help protect public money.

Every two years, councils must share some data with the National Fraud Initiative (NFI). This is a government-run project that checks for fraud or mistakes by comparing data from over 1,100 organisations.

This includes details about your Direct Payments, such as payment records and information about your support.

What this means for you:

• Your Direct Payments data is securely shared with the government as part of this national check.
• This is required by law (Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014), so your permission isn’t needed.
• Your data is handled according to UK data protection laws (UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018).
• No decisions are made automatically. If something unusual is found, it’s looked at by a person before any action is taken.

Why this matters:

• It helps stop fraud and errors in the Direct Payments system.
• It makes sure public money is used properly.
• It supports the long-term health of adult social care services.

If you have questions or want more information, you can call 0345 678 9044 or visit the National Fraud Initiative webpage on the Cabinet Office website.

Three Key Reminders for Direct Payment Recipients

1. Annual Leave for Employed PAs
   Make sure your Personal Assistants (PAs) are using their annual leave within the leave year (April to March). Leave cannot be carried over to the next year.

2. Personal Contribution Payments
   Please check that your personal contribution is correct and set up as a regular standing order into your Direct Payment account. If you're unsure of the amount, call 0345 678 9044 to confirm.

3. Contingency Planning
   Think about what support you would need if your usual arrangements are unavailable. Consider how you would arrange this and whether extra funding might be needed. Talk to your adult social care team to make sure your contingency plan is included in your support plan.

Disability Rights UK, Energize STW, and Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin Active Partnership are working together on the Get Yourself Active Local programme to support disabled people in Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin to be more physically active.

Did you know?

• Up to 20% of local residents identify as disabled.
• Nationally, disabled people are twice as likely to be physically inactive.
• Only 43% of disabled people feel they have the chance to be as active as they’d like, compared to 69% of non-disabled people.

Aim:
To increase the number of people with lived experience of disability, mental health, and long-term health conditions who are active and moving more.

The programme works with councils, organisations, and people with lived experience to make it easier for disabled people to get active in ways that suit them.

To find out more, contact Michelle, Empowering Communities Manager at Energize:
Email: michelle.pullen@energizestw.org.uk