Personal Budget

[sadoldred]

Is there anybody who gets a personal budget? If so what things can you use it for? x

[66Amanda66]

What is a personal budget and where do you get it from ? thanks, Amanda

[harvey12]

i would like to know what it is too

[Hidden]

A personal budget is something you get from social services to provide services to meet your assessed needs. Basically you request an assessment of need, social worker will see you and go through various options and if you meet the criteria you can now opt to have a personal budget by way of a direct payment to you. The social worker will look at the type of care you need, they use a scoring chart to come up with a budget based on your needs. If you opt to have a direct payment / personal budget you have to open a bank account for the monies to be paid onto and you arrange all your own care from this funding. You effectively become an employer if you need a carer. In my area Lancashire we have a company who work with service users supporting them set up the care. The advantages of this is that your are in control and can dictate when and whom supports you. You have to use the money to meet your needs in a safe way. I have worked with people and we have used them for the traditional services such as support with personal care, shopping, house work, escorts, day care, days out ect. You will be responsible for keeping books and receipts as the council will check every so often that the money is being used correctly. I dont know what council you are with but I am a social worker and we use these personal budgets with people all the time. It's about giving control back to the service user and trying to think out side of the box to meet peoples needs. So my advice is to approach your social service department and discuss with the social worker how they work the personal budgets in your area. Also to remember any services are means tested and most people pay something towards there care.

Hope I have not confused everyone

Jax x

[sadoldred]

Thankyou Jax for your answer. As I have been offered one of these! It needs careful attention. Dont know if its the route I want to go down x