Know how: Carers' Personal Budgets & Direct Payments

At Islington Carers Hub we often get enquiries about Carers' Personal Budgets and Direct Payments, so we wanted to give you a summary by first providing a short explanation of the key words.

Key words

Personalisation: Government led agenda to ensure that every person who receives support, whether provided by statutory services or funded by themselves, will have choice and control over the shape of that support in all care settings.

Personal Budget (PB): A Personal Budget is an agreed amount of money that is allocated to you personally by your local council (and other funding streams) following an assessment of your support needs.

Direct Payment (DP): Money given to a service user to enable them to arrange and be in control of the services they choose to meet their needs.

Carer’s Assessment determines Carers PB/DP eligibility

If you are providing care and support to an adult you are entitled to have a carer’s assessment. It doesn’t matter how much care you are providing or how often.

The outcomes of your carer’s assessment and any needs that have been identified as a result will determine whether you are eligible for a Carers PB/DP. It is worth noting that not all Carers Assessments will result in a Carers PB/DP. Instead, the strengths and capabilities around community and wider support networks could be considered as part of your support plan that could assist.

So you, as the carer, can potentially receive a Carers PB/DP in your own right once you are assessed by Social Services or a partner organisation, such as ICH, as needing support to be able to continue in your caring role.

Please note, where the cared-for person has multiple support needs and is known to both Adult Social Services and the Mental Health Trust, their primary need would inform which service is responsible for the carers’ assessment.

Personal budgets for carers are provided as a Direct Payment, which means you can have more choice, control and flexibility in how your needs and outcomes can be met.

If you are eligible for a Carers PB/DP, the amount you receive will depend on the outcome of your carer’s assessment and this will be captured in a support plan, which will highlight the specific outcomes identified.

You must use your Direct Payment in accordance with your agreed support plan.

To receive your Direct Payment you will need to complete and sign a Direct Payment Agreement and provide your bank details to Islington’s Direct Payments team.

The amount will be paid into your bank account every four weeks or possibly as a one-off payment. You must ensure that you do not have any debt on your account. You can set up a separate account just for the direct payment if this is easier.

It is important to keep your bank statements and receipts as you will need to provide these to the Direct Payments team. They need to check that the direct payment is being used to support you in achieving your goals and needs as outlined in your support plan.

Please note that CARERS are not financially assessed by Islington Social Services and do not have to pay a contribution towards their Carers Direct Payments.

A Carers Direct Payment does not count as income and therefore does not affect any benefits you may be receiving from the DWP or Pension Services.

Remember that a personal budget is only one part of the Islington offer to carers. Islington Carers Hub can also provide advice, support and information to carers on how they can access local organisations.