Personal budgets

Personal budgets are a way of giving you control over your care and support; this is sometimes called self-directed support.

This can include:

• planning how you want to manage your social care and support
• choosing the support you need
• being involved in decisions about what support is arranged, and who is going to do what
• providing the opportunity for more flexibility in paying for your care

You may qualify for a personal budget if you are over the age of 18 and are eligible for support from us, and you have:

• a disability
• an age-related illness or impairment
• mental health difficulties

Following an assessment of your needs, we'll make an agreement with you on how you want to spend your personal budget to get the support you need.

Once a personal budget has been agreed, we combine it with your assessed contribution in a personal account for care and support which pays for the needs identified in your support plan.

Direct payments

Direct payments are a way of giving you your personal budget so that you can buy services directly yourself rather than the council doing this on your behalf.

The aim behind personal budgets and direct payments is to give people choice and control over how they meet their social care goals.

The Direct Payments Guide explains what direct payments are, and how they work in York.

It’s been written for anyone considering applying for a direct payment, their carers, friends or family and people working in the care and support sector.

Also see

• Adult social care
• Support with transport
• Help managing your money
• Choosing your care and support (including 'Direct Payments')