We're keen to hear what users are spending their personal budgets on. We've heard of authorisations for driving lessons or music lessons, but what else are people spending their budgets on? We also know that there is debate among social workers about whether personal budgets should only be used for assessed need and not for what people want. Where do people stand on this?
I am a w/c user that has had a personal budget from 2007 originally on individual budget pilot and before that on a direct payment.
I use my budget mainly on support by a PA's who are my employers, they allow me to have a LIFE!!! driving and supporting me to go to social events, are my notetakers at any meetings I attend, helping me with my admin(both are because am involved user minvolvement,DOH, Skills for care ect) They allow me to be able to live an independent life that has a quality to it they stop my isolation. I have been able to put some of my budget( a very small amount as i don't get a lot)towards the deposit on my wheelchait adapted car, because of my budget helping me other monies have been freed up so I can go to gym and have a personal exercise plan drawn up that helps my muscles,. I have am able to thank people for non- paid informalsupport that people i know give me. My husband who is my 70, with his own medical problems and my informal carer especially as i need turning at night(need 24hr care) can go on respite weekend, confident that I can pay and hget other help.
I personally have nothing left for a holiday but know people who do use it this way and I get so angry when people say that is terrible. WHY????
WELL. !!these disabled people would be sent on respite care by the local authority, which costs far more than going away somewhere that is not a institionalised respite home which many hate as they are not having the indepence they crave. Why should disabled people not go away like others do. It SAVES A LOT OF (tax payers) MONEY as the LA does not send them . It also allows the informal family carer respite .
The whole point of personal budgets and direct payments is that people should be able to choose what THEY want and what is most useful.
If that's driving lessons, great.
The problem I'm having is that the evil RAS is spitting out ridiculous figures and the thought of anyone having enough money to pay for anything other than very very basic human needs is unimaginable.
Some user groups suffer more from this than others. Older adults in particular as RAS systems discriminate against those who have more carer support. I was reading some research about it which I'll dig up when I have more time.
Wonderful and powerful story of what personal budgets should be used for - and I'm glad that they are!
I have previously had direct payments for the past two years. all of my money goes to the agency staff. I have since had a review and my award has increased.
So what has changed I ask myself.
The care side of things remains the same. As I am happy with my care. The balance and review is for my social life. Hmmmm very tricky , when restrictions are in place. conflicting information especially as I read that I could buy services as long as it was not illegal. Hmmm illegal, I guess this may mean drugs!!
What I can not spend the money on for my social life.
A online course in CBT.
paying family and friends in kind for their long hard care and support of me.
Can go to the theatre, but the assistant with have to leave me unassisted as I don't pay her for her tickets.
Can not go to a resturante for the same reasons. I guess it's fine to eat alone and have someone what me. Hmmm disturnbing and ludicrus
Can buy a talk type software, as my fingers cramp and can not write when i have an acute episode
Can buy alternative treatments and therapies.
Can visit my mum
Other than that, I can not actually have a social life to make friends or go places without the support of the carer assisting me other than just an escort. What a shambles.
No choice and no control.
This is interesting: where I work, I have included the carer's costs on social & leisure outings but NOT the Budget holders, on the basis that people normally fund their own leisure costs, but the Personal Budget should cover the additional costs of doing the same thing with a disability: so if you can only go to the event with your care worker, the PB covers the care workers costs, not yours...
So it depends where you live, and I have to add that where I work, these niceties are being heavily restricted in the face of the cuts...
I understand that self directed support is a process. I persnoally don't hold my social worker responsible for her imput as she clearly did agree to my support plan. The decision for me to not have the online course was made by someone else.
I am interested to understand why the self directed froms ask questions about a users social life and ' what is important to you' when it may seem contridictory when what I have asked for does seem to be taken into account my long term mental health needs. I am wondering and have challenged the decesion regarding my online course as the reasons why I could not put some of my budget aside to pay for the course.
I have read many case stories regarding how people can spend their money. Being creative has come up many time. Well here is an example of me being creative as I explained to my S/s
I love alternative therapies. Medication makes me feel like a zombie. Side affects unbearable.
I can get these very cheap at my local colledge students salon. Massage cost £10 compared to 20/30 pounds an hour.
I love sewing. The course is at the weekend, from 6 to 9pm. No carer to assit me. So I save some money learning from youtube how to sew.
i volunteer online for two charites, but can not do this outside.
A weekend break cost £724 for an assistant to come on holiday with me. But I can not save the money from the above to have a holiday and take a member of family with me.
I have been housebound for nearly 3 years and this is first time I have been given an increase in my budget for a social life outdoors. I have budgeted very well but still even when I have shown how I can save some money for the online course and the holiday, I am told no.
I do have an advocate coming to see me next week. to challenge the use of my money.
Like I said, I can do alot with my budget, find lot's resources that do not cost the earth and save some for other things, infact only two things. I am amazed that I am not allowed to do this, even though I have shown how to budget the money.
It would seem illogical, for me to pay a therapist 30 pounds when I can get treatment for 5 to 10 pounds.
I was told I would have to pay the carer her fares and tickets or whatever the event was out of my own money. Hopefully this may be clearer when I meet with the advocate.
Oh well. I shall wait and see.
I',m currently writing this up for my Masters - and have found the first Personal Assistant from over twenty years ago....
It's a fascinating journey - allowing someone to live normally in the Community.
"People don't see us, or what we can do."
Linda McLean
Linda I hope all goes well with your PA. I have been finding it very differcult not only to find a flexible assistant but also someone with similar interests, of cultural backgrounds.
What I have since learned regarding courses online, it is reasonably accepted since I am not asking for more money, but simply stating how I could budget the fees for a online course.
What is really interesting here, is doing and learning activitites that are similar to my background. Meaningful activities speaks volumes regarding the building of self respect , confidence and self worth. I believe any actitivites that reflects what a user wants to do, should surely be motivating , enhancing ones sense of personal responsibilty to do what they feel will work for them.
What is also interesting, the lack of respect that those who do receive a personal budget, would to some degree not spend the money wisely or their needs may not be met. Here I feel this is a contridication, as finding services to use and then to be told it may not be accepted is a restriction upon a user who has been identified in using those services in the first place but then have those needs rejected. If restrictions are in place then the money in these cases are NOT BEING used wisely or simply not being used at all! Having the budget but not been allowed to use it as identified needs, is not in my opinion respecting the users ability to buy sevices that would enhance their lives and living in community as best as possible.
An example of the above is been informed that any savings from budgeting and finding cheaper services as opposed to expensive services, this money saved would be clawed back!!
so a alternative treatment that may cost £45.00 for a hour, and the user in this case myself, I can get it for £10. The excess would be saved and treated as not using the money wisely!! Without due respect that this saving could be spent on a course, to pay a friend to escort me in kindness, etc... it would then be deemed unused money that needs to be clawed back. As I am not allowed to do a course , or pay friends in kindness, this is not accepted.
So in hindsight is would not appear to be helpful to buy services cheaper and to budget the money at all. If a service user is buying services cheaper, to make better use of the money, and can use the excess of savings on other activities then this does not seem to be using the money sensibly.
The question that I would like to pose is this.
Does personalisation exploit the service users intelligents to have more control over their lives?