What’s that then? An individual who needs personal assistance services is allocated a sum of money. That way they know how much they have to spend on their support, and they can spend it in a way that suits their needs.

So it’s another term for direct payments? No, both individual budgets and direct payments are types of self-directed support, which means that the individual decides how his or her support needs will be met, but individual budgets provide more choice and flexibility. A direct payment is simply a cash payment for social care, instead of services, from the local authority. But individual budgets include social care money, plus other income streams such as disabled facilities grants. Individual budgets can be a cash direct payment, or services, or a combination of both.

It’s not just for social care? Nope – individual budgets include six income streams. The independent living fund, for example, is aimed at helping disabled people to live in the community. The disabled facilities grant can pay for changes to your house, such as a stairlift or a ramp. The integrated community equipment services income stream pays for such things as grab rails and raised toilet seats.

Can I use it if I have a job? Yes, the access-to-work income stream is for just that and will enable you to use your individual budget to purchase things that will help you at work. This could be a counsellor or job coach if you have mental health difficulties, a British Sign Language interpreter, or specialist software if you have sight problems. If you have difficulty using public transport, you could receive money to pay for taxis, or a grant towards the cost of adapting a vehicle.

What if I’m bad with money? Advice is available from independent advocates who can help you to develop and manage your support plan. Different ways of offering information and advocacy to people with individual budgets are being tested.

But I like some of the services I already get Individual budgets are flexible, so you can keep receiving services you are happy with, but add other things.

Great. I live in Brixton, how do I sign up? Sorry, individual budgets are available only in 13 pilot areas and Brixton is not one of them. The lucky guinea-pigs are: Barking and Dagenham; Barnsley; Bath and North East Somerset; Coventry; Gateshead; Essex; Kensington and Chelsea; Leicester; Lincolnshire; Manchester; Norfolk; Oldham; and West Sussex. But the programme is being evaluated and a decision on its future use is expected in the spring.

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