If you’ve been awarded a Direct Payment following a social care assessment, you have been given something very valuable: the ability to choose how support is arranged at home. Instead of having services organised for you, a Direct Payment allows you to decide who supports you and how.
ilarna is designed to support that choice.
By working directly with independent, self-employed ilarna Personal Assistants, many people use their Direct Payment to arrange support that feels consistent, personal, and suited to their day-to-day life, without relying on a traditional agency model.
This guide explains how ilarna can be used as part of that approach.
What is a Direct Payment?
A Direct Payment is one way of receiving your social care personal budget.
Rather than the local authority arranging support on your behalf, the budget is paid to you (or held in a managed account), giving you the flexibility to choose how it is used.
- The purpose: to give you more choice and control over your support
- A common challenge: understanding options and keeping track of practical arrangements
Using ilarna alongside a Direct Payment
ilarna is designed to make arranging support feel clearer and more manageable.
Choosing who supports you
You can browse profiles of local, independent, self-employed ilarna Personal Assistants on the platform and decide who feels like the right fit for your home and preferences. You’re able to have a conversation before agreeing anything.
Clear information
ilarna Personal Assistants on the platform complete identity and background checks before appearing on ilarna, helping you make an informed choice.
Practical organisation
The platform supports invoicing and secure payments. Records can be downloaded and kept for your own reference or shared with your local authority, if needed.
The value of a direct arrangement
Many people value the direct relationship that a Direct Payment allows.
Using your budget intentionally
Because rates are agreed directly with your chosen Personal Assistant, more of your budget goes toward the support you’ve arranged, rather than agency overheads.
Consistency
Choosing who supports you can help create a familiar routine, without uncertainty about who is visiting on a given day.
Getting started with your Direct Payment
Whether you already have a Direct Payment or are in the process of applying, you can explore how ilarna works at your own pace.
Talking things through
Our team can explain how the platform works and how payments and records are handled, so you understand what using ilarna would involve.
Finding the right match
You can browse profiles and speak with ilarna Personal Assistants before deciding who you’d like to work with.
Understanding the paperwork
We can show you how invoices and records are generated through the platform, so you know what information is available for your own records.
Ready to use your budget your way?
Find an ilarna Personal Assistant
Need help understanding how ilarna works with Direct Payments? Our team can help you navigate funding options to ensure you're getting the most out of your support.
Call us: 0208 050 4805
Email: hello@ilarna.com
ilarna is a platform that helps people connect with independent, self-employed ilarna Personal Assistants. ilarna provides tools to support communication and payments, but does not provide financial management services, legal advice, or carry out local authority assessments.
