CARERS in the city say they are being let down by a 'chaotic' system of payments which are meant to increase choice for disabled people.

City carers and campaigners have reported widespread problems with obtaining direct payments from Plymouth City Council, particularly for people with learning disabilities.

Direct payments are made to people so they can buy the support services of their choice, instead of Social Services providing them directly.

The council has apologised over those people who have faced 'unacceptable' delays and said it is making 'strenuous efforts' to improve the system.

It admitted there had been problems due to a rise in the number of people wanting to receive the payments.

Carers Chris and Bernice Coombe wrote a letter of complaint to Gordon Brown after it took 31 weeks for the council to agree to direct payments for Bernice's 54-year-old sister Angela Mucha, who has Down's syndrome.

Social Services has recently agreed to provide the benefits but the couple are awaiting backdated payments of about £4,000 – which they paid out of their own pockets.

The money pays for four days a week at city agency Valuing Independence, where Angela learns skills such as how to cook and pay bills, as well as taking part in a range of community activities.

Chris, 57, of Crownhill, said: "It's been a nightmare – chaotic.

"The whole idea of buying services that people with learning disabilities need is great, but the problem is finding those services and getting hold of the money to fund them.

"It's messing with people's lives," he said. "They've closed down two centres and said direct payments are the way forward."

The Devonport Park Training Centre and Union Street's Hands On Pottery closed last year.

Kay O'Shaughnessy, carers' campaigner and chair of charity Friends and Families of Special Children, said: "For some people it's working well, but those people are in the minority.

"Either people aren't getting the money or they are getting it and can't find anywhere to spend it."

A city council spokeswoman said: "We fully accept that there have been some problems with our direct payment systems due to the pressures caused by a rapid and substantial rise in the number of people wishing to receive them over the last two years."

In March 2008 the council was providing direct payments to 207 adults, she said. This rose to 488 by March 2009, putting it in the top 25 per cent of all local authorities, and to 713 by December of last year.

"We apologise to those users who have faced unacceptable delays in receiving their payments. We understand their frustration and would like to assure them that we are making strenuous efforts to improve the system."

She added that the council had received much positive feedback about the difference the payments made to the lives of those who had received them – and only five complaints relating to them since January last year.

Direct payments feature heavily in the Government's 'Valuing People' strategy, which aims to increase choice and independence for disabled people.

Patient representative group the Plymouth Local Involvement Network (LINk) is gathering views on direct payments and carers' needs.

LINk stewardship group vice-chair Joe Dunn said: "The LINk has begun to receive a small number of comments relating to accessing direct payments, especially from people who care for someone with a learning disability."

Contact the LINk on 01752 202407 or visit www.plymouth-link.co.uk