How to get adult social care support

Personal budgets

Personal budgets give people who need social care and support more choice and control. They can help you achieve the things that are most important to you in your life.

If you are over 18, live in the borough, and have been assessed as eligible for care and support, this could be delivered through a personal budget.

The budget can be used in many ways, and with the money you can:

  • choose the type of support you need
  • who will provide it
  • how the support will be provided

If we can help, we will:

  • calculate the amount of money we can give you towards your care and support - this is your personal budget
  • ask you to create a plan showing us how you will use the money
  • help you write the plan, or you can ask a friend

We will look at the finished plan and agree the final amount you will receive.

The money should help you to:

  • look after yourself
  • become or remain mobile
  • keep safe
  • manage everyday tasks
  • access work or learning

How much you need to pay

You will need to complete a financial assessment to see if you need to contribute towards your personal budget.

How much you pay will depend on:

  • how much money you have coming in
  • any savings you have
  • and your financial situation

We can also arrange a benefits check. This advice is free.

Your contribution is calculated using our charging policy.

If you must pay towards part of the budget, the final amount will include your contribution and ours.

Managing your personal budget

Once you receive your personal budget you will need to decide how to manage it. You could:

  • Choose to receive your personal budget as a direct payment to arrange and pay for your own support. If you choose this option, we will provide you with a prepaid card which we will pay your allocated funds on to. If you are paying towards the cost of your care you must also pay the agreed amount onto the prepaid card to use to pay for services.

    You will need to sign a direct payment agreement that sets out what the money can and cannot be spent on. You can then start to organise your own support.

  • Choose not to receive a direct payment and opt for a service organised by us instead. We will ensure you receive the support agreed in your support plan.

For further information, go to Direct Payments for Social Care.

Related advice

Care Act fact sheets (GOV.UK)

Video: Paying for your care

Video transcript

Personal budgets 
You’ll receive a personal budget if your local authority assesses you as having eligible social care and support needs. Your local authority works out your personal budget based on your care and support assessment. Your contribution towards your personal budget is calculated during your financial assessment.  

You can spend your personal budget on the eligible care and support needs documented in your agreed care plan. You can instruct your local authority to manage your personal budget and choose care services on your behalf, or pay the money to you (or someone you choose) as a direct payment.

Direct payments
Direct payments give you choice and control over how your care and support is arranged and provided. For example, you could choose to hire personal assistants to meet your particular care needs.

If you choose direct payments, the council will send your personal budget by either paying it into your direct payment account, or  (in some cases) sending you a pre-paid card.

Client contribution
Your financial assessment determines how much - if anything - you should contribute towards your care and support costs. This is your client contribution and is the weekly amount you’ll pay towards your care and support costs. This is sometimes called co-funding.

If you can't make a payment to your local authority, you must tell them as soon as possible. If you don't pay your charge and don't let them know, they may have to pass your details onto a debt collection agency or their legal services department. 

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