Carers personal budgets

What are carers personal budgets?

A carers personal budget can help you have a break from caring. You can choose what sort of break you have, for example:

• a holiday
• joining a gym
• college courses
• gardening
• short-breaks
• driving lessons 
• pampering/therapies

Who can have a carers personal budget?

You can apply for a carers personal budget if:

• you are an unpaid carer (Carers Allowance is not classed as payment)
• you care for someone who lives in Salford
• you have had a carers assessment
• your carers assessment shows that you have needs that cannot be met another way

The person you care for may also need to have an assessment.

If the social worker thinks you are entitled to a carers personal budget, they will help you to fill in a support plan. This shows how you want to take a break from caring and how having a break will help you.

They will also decide if you have a high, medium or low need for support.

How do social workers decide my level of need?

The social worker will use the information in your support plan and in your carers assessment. They will look at what other support you have, such as family who can step into the caring role, to give you a break. They will also look at how your caring role is affecting your:

• health and wellbeing
• stress levels
• ability to remain in or return to work
• relationships and family life
• ability to continue with your caring role

What do the different levels of need look like?

High need

• You might be about to lose your job, or have to stop going to college or university because of caring
• Your relationship with the person you care for will break down
• Your health and wellbeing is being severely affected through your caring duties
• You are the only carer and are socially isolated with no other social support

Middle need

• You are the sole carer and have limited social support
• You need support to find work, voluntary work or an education course
• Your relationship with the person you care for may breakdown

Low need

• You have to change jobs or be flexible with your work or education because of your caring role
• You need support to take part in social activities
• Other people provide occassional but regular support to the person you care for

Can all carers have a personal budget?

After your assessment, if you are not eligible or your needs can be met another way, then you will not get a carers personal budget.

Are there things you cannot use your carers personal budget for?

There are some things the carers personal budget will not fund including:

• holidays or breaks that you have already taken or paid for
• costs of breaks or holidays booked before your carers assessment
• debts and household bills
• gambling (including bingo and the lottery)
• services which are, or should be provided to person you care for
• the cost of a break for the person you care for

What do I need to do next?

Contact The Princess Royal Trust Salford Carers Centre to find out more or to talk about whether you are eligible. If you want a carers assessment contact us.

This page was last updated on 8 August 2011