In this chapter, I outline my personal experiences and views of using a personal budget and managing direct payments (DPs). I have received support packages both under the old assessment process and have had a personal budget for over four years, all of which have had some form of a DP element. Having social care needs is not a choice. It was not until I reached crisis point and came to terms with my situation that I asked for help and started to receive a personal care package. To me, having a personal budget is more than just money, as no amount of money is going to resolve all of the challenges and barriers I face on a day-to-day basis; it is about giving me the resources and enabling me to decide how to manage my life and conditions to the best of my ability through more tailored and flexible support. After all, who has exactly the same needs even if they have the same conditions?

The journey

After meeting the eligibility and financial criteria, I completed a personal budget questionnaire, which covers the different tasks I carry out in my life, both practical and emotional. I answered the questions as if I had no support, including unpaid care, and was then asked (along with the unpaid carer) how much unpaid support they were prepared to give and what support they needed to do this. An indicative budget was calculated based on the answers (jointly agreed by myself and my allocated worker) to the questions posed.

Once I had an amount, the next stage was to write a support plan. As well as explaining how my budget was going to be spent and managed, it also covered what was important to me, what was working well and not, my desired goals/outcomes and how I planned to keep myself safe. It wasn't until I had a personal budget that I was asked about the more positive side of my situation. Writing this document was the key process to helping me to work out how my needs were going to be met and managed based on my support/care needs (as identified in the questionnaire).