Direct Payments Prepaid Card Page 1

Direct Payments Prepaid Card Page 1

Direct Payment - 5 key improvements . Review and streamlining of procedures for staff Framework agreement for Support Agencies Finance Team to offer advisory support to staff Finance Team/Social Care staff – joint working with citizens Implementation of prepaid card Page 2

What is a prepaid card? Debit card – exactly the same as a personal bank account card or direct payment bank account card It can do everything a bank card can do Account number unique to citizens Council will pay DP every 4 weeks onto the account Citizens can then use the account/prepaid card to pay for services in relation to their care and support Does everything a DP account does – but no cheque book! Page 3

Why is the Council implementing prepaid cards? Better ways of working: Government desire for monitoring to be ‘light touch’ Quicker to set up – no need to open separate bank account Financial benefits: Reduces cost of administering monitoring Improves recovery rate Recognise good practise from other Councils At February 2016, over 100 Councils are already using prepaid cards Page 4

What can a prepaid card do for citizens? Freedom to arrange care how they choose No need to handle cash Access to better prices – payment by direct debit or online Quicker access to funds Easier monitoring – no returns! Easy to use online system – view real time transactions Telephone support – to access balances and transaction history Page 5

How will citizens receive their card? ACF0900 and DP prepaid card agreement to be signed when you meet with citizens Return ACF 0900 to CSAO and DP prepaid card agreement to Direct Payment Finance Team (CFS) CFS will open account and arrange for card to be issued Carrier delivers card to citizen Citizen will need to register card Citizen will need to activate the pin number Citizen will be issued with a step by step user guide Page 6

What next? Once the card has been activated, payments will be made to the account and citizen can use the card to pay for services Financial monitoring will be completed by the Direct Payment Finance Team Discrepancies will be resolved with the citizen by the Direct Payment Finance Team/Social Work staff through robust joint working Existing clients will be encouraged to move to payment card Page 7

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