Further information on Personal Budgets

There is a lot to consider when thinking about applying for and using Personal Budget.

Other Funds that you can use in a Personal Budget

You may want to add to your Personal Budget so that the services you use suit you or your child's needs. This would mean that your total personal budget would be a combination of what the Local Authority put in plus what you contribute.

You do not need to have a Personal Budget. It is just one way that you and the Local Authority can work together to achieve outcomes set out in an EHC plan. If you decide you do not want a Personal Budget, you will still receive the support needed to meet these needs.

Managing a Personal Budget

You can manage your Personal Budget in four ways:

• Through Direct Payments where you receive the money to pay for and manage services yourself.

• Through an agreement with the Local Authority. This means they would control the money and spend it on what you ask for.

• Through a third-party arrangement. This would mean the money is paid to an individual or organisation who manages it for you.

• Through a combination of the above.

If you decide you want to use Direct Payments, Sutton can help you to open a Sutton Prepaid Card account. This is where your Direct Payments will be paid to. It is monitored every 6-12 months to ensure the Personal Budget is being used correctly. You do not have to provide bank statements for this. You may find it helpful to keep any receipts in case of any discrepancies though.

You may want to open a separate bank account for any Direct Payments you receive. Within the first three months you will have to complete a short declaration of what you have used that account for. You will also have to provide a bank statement. After this, you will have to complete these every six months. This is to make sure that the Personal Budget is being used to support the outcomes in the EHC plan.

Personal Budgets and Welfare Benefits

Having a Personal Budget does not affect any benefits you, your child or your family are entitled to. This is because it is not classified as income.

Personal budget without an EHC plan

You cannot have a Personal Budget unless you have an EHC plan. This is because a Personal Budget is an amount of money that is needed to cover provision stated within an EHC plan.

Safeguarding children and young people who receive a Personal Budget

You have a safeguarding responsibility when using a Personal Budget to buy services. Before a Personal Budget is agreed, you will meet with professionals to discuss this. The Local Authority cannot enforce that you undertake checks of a service, but it is recommended you do.

If you use a Personal Budget for equipment, it is your responsibility to make sure it is used safely. For example, if you can connect it to the internet, you would have to set up any parental controls needed.