If you are in receipt of a personal budget, you must be aware of your responsibilities to ensure that the money is used correctly.
Employing staff
If you choose to directly employ your own staff, such as a personal assistant, you must obtain advice, support and information about your legal responsibilities as an employer. The
Independent Living Advocacy (ILA) Essex will be able to help.
Employing family members
You cannot routinely employ a member of your family to support you, except in exceptional circumstances which have been agreed with Essex County Council.
Using a care agency
We recommend you use a care agency registered with the
Care Quality Commission (CQC), who inspect the standards provided by care agencies and make sure that they meet national minimum standards.
Correct use of budget
You must only use your budget as agreed in your support plan. You cannot use your budget for anything illegal or immoral.
Banking and taxes
You are not taxed on your budget, as it is for your own support needs. However, it is important to keep your budget money in a separate bank account so that you can demonstrate, if asked by HM Revenue and Customs, that the money has been used to meet the outcomes in your Support Plan.
Keeping records
You need to keep all receipts or invoices for purchases made with your budget. We will ask to see receipts for all single purchases over £500 and may also ask to see your bank statements for your budget bank account. Your practitioner will discuss this with you in further detail.
Report changes
If your needs change so you require either more or less support, you must let us know as soon as possible. We may need to review your
support plan.
Return of unspent monies
We normally allow people to carry forward up to 8 weeks worth of their Personal Budget from one year to the next. It may be possible to carry more, if it has been agreed in your Support Plan. Over and above this amount we will ask you for a repayment, but we will discuss this with you.