Cultures of welfare at the front line: implementing direct payments for disabled people in the UK

Direct payments are central to UK independent living and welfare modernisation agendas, however, little is known about the local cultures of welfare within which they are implemented This article uses eight case studies of devolved governance within local authorities and trusts to explore the dynamics of implementation cultures at the front line. While national and local policies are clearly important, so too are political cultures, commissioning practices and interrelationships between key stakeholders While local authorities have enjoyed considerable discretion and autonomy in this area, the article concludes that greater harmonisation may be required in the interests of social justice.