Money Talks, but What Does it Say? Direct Payments and the Commodification of Care

The development of direct payments has been greatly influenced by the combined pressure of governments' determination to create a mixed economy in social care and action from the Disability Movement in its quest for independent living and social justice. The extent to which the ideals of these perspectives have been realised by the reality of direct payments is unclear. One of the outcomes of the shift to a market economy is that social care provision is treated progressively as a commodity to be bought and sold. This paper charts the background to cash payments, explores these issues and considers what the future may hold.