The Cabinet Office Strategy Unit calls direct payments "the most successful public policy in the area of social care".
The Act gave local authorities in Britain and Northern Ireland, the powers to make cash payments to disabled people.
Initially, this was confined to people under age 65 years with physical and sensory impairments, learning difficulties and mental health problems.
It was later amended to include older people, 16- and 17-year-olds, parents of disabled children and in England, Wales and Northern Ireland only, carers caregivers.
[2] Each person on the scheme is given an amount of money to be managed by themselves, possibly with the aid of others such as family or an external advocacy organisation.