 Understanding the different sources of funding available for social care can be quite confusing. At Lifeways Community Care, we are committed to simplifying the process, ensuring that people have full information at their fingertips.
With the Government planning to personalise adult social care services even further, many people across the country can now access Individual Budgets, Personal Budgets, Direct Payments and Independent Living Fund Payments.
Personal Budgets
Personal Budgets are an allocation of funding to meet assessed needs. This allows a person to have control and choice over how their care needs are met and by whom. It can either be taken as a Direct Payment or left with councils to commission services, or a combination of both. There is, therefore, a choice for people who do not want to take on the responsibility of Direct Payment themselves. Personal Budgets are being introduced by councils over the next three years.
Individual Budgets
Individual Budgets – sometimes called Individualised Budgets – differ in that they cover a multitude of funding streams, besides adult social care, eg Supporting People, Disabled Facility Grant, Independent Living Funds, Access to Work and Community Equipment Services. Similar to Personal Budgets, an Individual Budget can be taken as a Direct Payment or left with the council to administer. It can also be given to another organisation to be managed on behalf of the user, or any combination of the above methods, giving the person choice about how they receive and manage their care package. |
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