• You cannot employ a partner or close relative living in the same household.
• You cannot employ a close relative living elsewhere or someone else living in the same household as you.  (But in exceptional cases, we may allow you to employ a close relative living elsewhere.  We can tell you more about this.)

A partner is member of a married or unmarried couple including same-sex couples.  A close relative is a parent, parent-in-law, aunt, uncle, grandparent, son, daughter, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, stepson or daughter, brother, sister or spouse, or partner of any of these. 

Anyone you employ should have a criminal record check.  Disclosure Scotland does this for you, and we will tell you more about this.

Please click here to return to Direct Payments - contents page