If you're eligible for our help following your care needs assessment and financial assessment, you'll be given a personal budget.
A personal budget is the overall cost of the care and support we provide or arrange to meet your care and support needs. It sets out how much you may have to pay towards the cost of your care, and the remaining amount we must pay to meet your needs. You'll be given as much flexibility and choice as possible in how your needs are met.
The amount of money you receive in your personal budget can be used in one of the following ways:
- you can manage a direct payment; in line with your care and support plan, you'll be given money to spend yourself and in a way that suits you best to meet your needs
- we can manage an account on your behalf; we manage your personal budget allocation and arrange the services agreed in your care and support plan
- a third party can manage your account
- you can have a mixed package which includes elements of all the options
Your social worker will go through the options with you when you agree your care and support plan.
You can find out more about personal budgets on the Age UK website.