Paying for your care
There are a few other ways to pay for your care, so you can choose what works best for you. Details of other payment methods are below.
Confused about your care payments?
- Paying for your care can be confusing. We have made every effort to explain the process as clearly as possible. If you need some help or would like to discuss your care payments, call us on 020 4583 4047. If you receive care from a private care organisation, contact them directly.
Pay by Direct Debit
The benefits of paying by Direct Debit include:
- an immediate money-back guarantee in the event of a payment error
- 10 days advance notice if the date or amount changes
- the right to cancel at any time.
- choose to pay on 1st or 15th of each month.
After you set up a Direct Debit, we will send an invoice to confirm. You should receive it 10 days before the payment is due.
Set up a Direct Debit
Before you start:
- have your customer number
- have your bank details
- if you are reinstating a Direct Debit you should contact your bank first. They may not be able to reinstate the Direct Debit without prior warning.
Paying online
To pay online you will need:
- your invoice number. This will be on any of your social care invoices.
- card details
- the amount you are paying.
Paying by phone
To pay by phone you will need:
- your invoice number. This will be on your social care invoice.
- card details
- the amount you are paying.
Call 020 8424 1220 (24hr service - select option 5).
Returning unused funds
If you receive your care budget through direct payments, someone will review it regularly. This is because these are public funds and are subject to monitoring.
If you get direct payments for your care, you might not always use all the money. When this happens, you will need to return the unused funds to us. This is because the money is meant to pay for your care and support, not for anything else.
Returning unused money helps to make sure the system is fair. It also lets us allocate money to support everyone who needs care. If the following applies to you, you will need to return your unused funds to us:
- You have been told by an officer to return any surplus in your Direct Payments Account.
- You have been told by your social worker or care manager following a review.
- If your budget account is closed after final monitoring.
- If you have received an overpayment due to a decrease in the package.
If you are unsure or need any help, please email direct.payments@harrow.gov.uk for support.