Moving from using direct payments to an individual budget has really made a big difference
13/09/2012
I count myself very fortunate that, from the age of eighteen, I have always been in control of my own support budget and have never had to rely on traditional 'care' services. However my local authority had only ever allowed me to use my direct payments to pay my personal assistants (and their associated tax and national insurance contributions). I always seemed to end up having to give back some support money that I couldn't use, whilst at the same time paying out of my own pocket for a whole host of additional costs that a non-disabled person would never have to pay.
Any disabled person will tell you that living with an impairment is an expensive business. From home adaptations and holidays to accessible black cabs, everything always seems to cost that little bit more if you have specific access requirements. It always seemed like specialist providers could pretty much charge whatever took their fancy, and therefore unfair that I couldn't use my direct payments to cover all of these extra costs.
So when my local authority announced they were about to start a more flexible individual budget pilot scheme, I barged my way onto it and wouldn't take no for an answer!
Before getting my budget I had to write my own support plan, which proved to be a very empowering experience. In the past, whenever I was assessed by a social worker, they would fill out a 'care plan' which asked lots of intrusive and personal questions about exactly what I could and couldn't do for myself. However by writing my own support plan I was able to list exactly which aspects of my current support were working, and which aspects needed to change and how. Furthermore because my support plan was something I produced myself, I was able to decide exactly what information I wished to disclose and who would be allowed to see it.
In my support plan I asked for various small home adaptations, such as a low threshold front door with an electric lock and electric curtain rails, as well as equipment such as a shower chair and a hostess trolley to enable us to carry drinks and food from the kitchen to other rooms in the house. I'm now able to look after my health better through regular visits from a chiropodist and membership to an accessible gym with a pool.
Since it costs me more to go on holiday, as I need to book through a specialist travel agent to get my access needs met and sometimes need to take a personal assistant with me, I asked for support to be able to take short breaks together as a family. I also now use my budget to pay for my personal assistant's expenses whilst they are working for me, such as overnight accommodation, food and travel costs. Finally I have been able to use some of my budget to pay for after school childcare for my son whilst I'm still at work.
These may all sound like small things, but since my plan was approved and I've been able to start spending my budget, they have made a huge difference to how I live my life
