The Health and Social Care Act 2008 provided for regulations extending direct payments. This consultation, held between August and November 2008, questioned people about revising the existing regulations to allow a greater number of people to take advantage of direct payments.
The proposed recipients would be severely disabled children reaching their eighteenth year, adults with severe head injuries, some people with dementia and those subject to certain provisions in mental health and criminal justice legislation. This is all part of the government's Putting People First strategy and is aiming to ensure the balance between benefit from direct payment and safeguarding individuals lacking capacity.