What impact the coronavirus (COVID-19) may have on direct payments, what to do if you have a personal assistant (PA), how you can use direct payments to buy personal protection equipment and to prioritise essential tasks, vaccinations and testing for PAs.

Call Bristol Care Direct on 0117 922 2700 if your Personal Assistant can't support you or meet your care needs due to coronavirus (COVID-19) and you don't have any other support network which means you have no care today or tonight.

Easy Read Direct Payments (money for care and support) during coronavirus (GOV.UK)

Direct payments funding pay dates

We'll make sure that your payments are still paid on your regular payment dates.

Direct payments support provided by WECIL or People Plus

Both organisations will continue to offer telephone and email support.  

For more information you can:

Your personal assistant (PA) and self-isolation

Contact your direct payment support provider or your employer insurance provider for more information.

Using Direct Payments to buy additional personal protection equipment or prioritise essential tasks at home

Personal protection equipment (PPE) can be:

  • gloves
  • masks
  • sanitiser gel
  • aprons

Normally the employer must ensure their employees are adequately protected but with PPE in short supply, we request that Direct Payments recipients contact their support agencies WECIL and People Plus who will inform Bristol City Council.  The Council will arrange appropriate PPE to be distributed.

You can also check the Public Health guidance Go to https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-how-to-work-safely-in-domiciliary-care (opens new window) on how to use PPE effectively.

If you need to stay home because of self-isolation, you can use Direct Payment funding in a more flexible way to prioritise essential tasks like:

  • personal hygiene
  • hygienic cleaning
  • clothes washing
  • food preparation

COVID-19 vaccinations and testing for personal assistants

GOV.UK has information about coronavirus (COVID-19) testing for personal assistants.

Personal assistants can also get regular rapid coronavirus tests at the Bristol Rapid Testing Centre.

Book your COVID-19 and flu vaccinations on the Healthier Together website.