Social Care Funding – Direct Payments
In England, all people needing social care have the option to direct their own support and have access and control of the social care funding available to them following an assessment of their needs. These options include direct payments, personal budgets and individual budgets.
If you go onto the NHS website and type in Personal Health Budgets, it will lead you to the website below. http://www.peoplehub.org.uk/ This website acts as a resouce/information hub and forum for people considering personal health budgets and how they work.
Having a personal health budget enables people to take control of their NHS budget in a number of different ways. It explains the difference between social personal care budgets and NHS personal health budgets.
What is the difference between a personal health budget, a personal budget, an individual budget and a direct payment?
- A personal health budget is for your NHS healthcare and support needs.
- A personal budget is for your social care and support needs.
- An individual budget includes your social care and support needs plus other funding, such as independent living.
- A direct payment is one way of managing these budgets, where you get the cash to buy the agreed care and support you need.
Personal Budgets Helpline
Personal budgets helpline and email service
Telephone: 0300 555 1525.
Opening hours: 9.30am -1.30pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays
Email: personalbudgets@disabilityrightsuk.org
The Personal budgets helpline telephone and email service (formerly the Self Directed support Line) at Disability Rights UK is an advice service that is open for individuals and organizations to provide information on Personal budgets as part of the Personalisation agenda. The Advisor on the helpline will explain to you the concept of personal budgets in relation to the care and support services and how to access social care funding in the light of the Care Act.
This line gives information on the national eligibility criteria for social care funding, care needs assessments and care and support planning as well as the national eligibility criteria and non-residential community care charges.
The line also offers advice on managing self-operated care packages (such as opening a separate bank account and keeping a record of how the budget is spent), including general advice to potential users of direct payments and self-funders on the responsibilities and legal requirements involved in employing staff/personal assistants who support you in everyday life.
They don’t advise on social security benefits, equipment/aids and discrimination related issues.