If you are eligible to receive social care services, you will receive a personal budget which allows you to pay for these services directly using the money paid to you by Wokingham Borough Council. Carers may also receive direct payments to purchase services.

You, or a person nominated by you, will manage your care and support as well as manage your direct payment. We will give you help and support with all the arrangements. For information on managing your personal budget please read the document 'How to manage your Personal Budget'.

We will regularly review with you how well your direct payment is going. You can choose to stop a direct payment at any time.

What are the advantages?

• Choice
• Independence
• Flexibility
• Control
• Creativity

You decide who provides your care and support, as well as how and when you receive your care.

What can I use a personal budget for?

The money is for you to arrange services, including equipment, to meet your assessed care and support needs.

You may wish to employ someone directly or arrange for your care to be provided by an agency.

What can't I use a personal budget for?

You may not use a direct payment to pay a spouse, partner or close relative living in the same household for the care they provide, unless that person is specifically recruited to be a live-in employee. In exceptional circumstances we will assess this and we may agree it with you.

You cannot use a direct payment to pay for permanent residential accommodation.

How much money will I get?

Following an assessment of your needs, an amount of money will be allocated to you as a personal budget to pay for your support services.

Not all of your personal budget has to be received as a direct payment. For example, you may wish to organise your own respite care through a direct payment, and you may ask Wokingham Borough Council to organise your day care services for you.

Do I need to make a contribution?

Most social care services are subject to a financial assessment. This means that our staff will discuss your financial circumstances with you and make sure you receive all the benefits you may be entitled to. As part of this, you may be assessed as having to make a contribution towards paying for your support and assistance.

This contribution is the same whether we arrange the services for you or whether you receive a direct payment.

How will the money be paid?

The money will be paid to you monthly into a bank account of your choice, which you have set up specifically for your direct payment.