Help & Advice Self Directed Support
Self-Directed Support
Adult care and support services are changing across the whole Country. These changes are to give people more freedom, choice and control over the type of care and support they want. This is called Self-Directed Support.
Instead of your local Social Services Department providing or arranging services for you, Self-Directed Support allows you to arrange services for yourself. It puts you in control by giving you a Personal Budget so you can choose what to buy with the money allocated to you.
You can even choose a mix of options - buying in some services yourself while still asking Social Services to provide others.
Can I access Self-Directed Support?
Adults with sight loss are likely to be eligible if they have ongoing support or care needs. You may already be in receipt of a support or care package or can be assessed to see if you are eligible for Self-Directed Support. KAB rehabilitation workers can give you advice regarding how to apply for an assessment.
What can I use Self-Directed Support for?
You can use the funds for things like buying the time of a Sight Support Worker or Guide Communicator, day activities, respite breaks at locations of your choice, or to buy equipment and adaptations.
How much flexibility do I have with Self-Directed Support?
Self-Directed Support offers an opportunity to meet your assessed needs in more creative and flexible ways. You can choose to buy these services from your Local Authority or from other providers, or from a mix of both.
Your Self-Directed Support payment should be enough to buy services of an equivalent standard to those provided by your Local Authority.
Your payment is funded from Local Authority budgets, but it may also include other funding such as the Independent Living Fund.
How you can access Self-Directed Support - the process
A community care assessment is made of your needs and your financial position to assess your eligibility for Self-Directed Support.
If you are eligible an Estimated Personal Budget will be set. This is based on the cost of your support needs if the Local Authority were providing them. Your individual Support Plan is then agreed. This sets out what you need to achieve to lead as independent and fulfilling a life as you can. It will also outline the cost of any care or support that you need. The Support Plan shows how you intend to spend your Personal Budget to make sure you have the support you need.
Following completion of your Support Plan an Actual Personal Budget can be agreed. This is the actual amount of money you will receive to purchase your care or support needs. This might be more or less than the Estimated Budget.
What can I spend my Personal Budget on?
Your Personal Budget must be spent on achieving the things that have been agreed in your Support Plan, It cannot be spent on anything that is illegal or would endanger you or another person.
Is a Personal Budget taxable and will it affect any benefits that I might receive?
No. A Personal Budget does not count as income for tax or benefit purposes. A Personal Budget is specifically to pay for your care and support; it is not a loan. You will be asked by your Local Authority to provide confirmation of how you have used the funds.
What if I need help to manage my support or money?
You can receive assistance from a family member, a friend or a local organisation on managing Self-Directed Support. Brokerage services are being set up that will help people choose the help they want to buy, how to recruit and employ staff and so on; in return for this help, brokers will charge a fee that can be paid from your personal budget. You can also ask your Local Authority for help.
What if my needs change?
Dates for reviewing your needs will be set in advance, but if your needs change significantly before the review date you should ask for a re-assessment. This may lead to a change in your personal budget.
Where can I get more information?
More information on Self-Directed Support in Kent