A personal budget is a clear, upfront amount of money. It's identified by the local authority that can be used to arrange support. This includes some of the support agreed in your child or young person's Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP).
The amount that your child/young person gets depends on the needs and outcomes identified in their plan. This is decided through an Education, Health and Care Assessment or at the review of an EHCP.
A personal budget must be used to meet the outcomes that are set out in a child or young person's EHCP.
Mythbusters
- A personal budget is not additional money
- It is not the total sum of all the money that is used to support a child or young person with an EHCP
- The local authority does not need to list all the costs associated with supporting a child or young person. Just the parts that parents can have control over
The purpose of personal budgets
Personal budgets give you more choice and control over the services that your child/young person receives.
Personal budgets are a choice. You don't have to use a personal budget if you don't think it's the best option for your child and family.
Ways that you can manage a personal budget
If your child is eligible for a personal budget, you will have the choice of how to manage it. This could be:
- Direct payments β where you or your young person receive the money to contract, purchase and manage the services yourselves
- An arrangement β where the local authority, school or college holds the funds and arranges the support specified in the plan
- Third party arrangements β where the money is paid to an individual or organisation and managed on your behalf
- A combination of these options
You and your assessment co-ordinator will make the decision on which option is best. This decision will be included in the EHCP.
In some circumstances the choice of a direct payment may be withheld. The reason for this is likely to be where there are safeguarding concerns. Your assessment co-ordinator or lead professional will discuss these with you.
Eligibility for a personal budget
If your child or young person has had an EHC assessment and there is agreement to issue an EHCP, you will have the right to request a personal budget.
You may also request a personal budget through the statutory review of an EHCP. You can also request a personal budget when your child is being transferred from a Statement of Special Educational Needs (SEN) to an EHCP.
In all cases, the availability of a personal budget is based on the support your child or young person needs to achieve their agreed outcomes and have their identified support needs met.
In some cases an EHCP may not result in your child or young person having a personal budget. In other cases your child or young person may have a personal budget from more than one source (i.e. education, health and social care).