Appendix 3
Cash Budgets
Some Key Facts
Benefits
Responsibilities
You can choose a cash budget as an alternative to
council managed services or you can choose to have a
mixed-budget i.e. part cash budget and part council
managed services
You can ONLY spend your cash budget on support
services that meet your eligible social care needs &
your support must be costed within your allocated
cash budget!
You can ask a family member to help you manage your
budget or you can nominate an independent third-party
or organisation to manage your budget & services on
your behalf
You will be financially assessed by the Council &
may have to contribute toward the cost of your
support
You can choose to hold your own (and other) funds
with your cash budget to purchase additional or
complimentary services.
You will have to complete a support plan to say how
you will spend your budget and sign an agreement
form
In most cases you can purchase support & care from
an agency or service provider of your choice so you
can plan your support around your own life & the dayto-day things that are important to you.
You will need to open a designated bank account to
hold your budget. If you contribute towards the cost
of your support then you will need to make sure that
you pay this money into your designated account!
Alternately, you can choose to employ your own
support worker (in these cases we strongly recommend
that you undertake a full CRB check)
Every 3-months or so you will have to complete a
financial monitoring form to show that the money is
being spent correctly.
You can also purchase social, leisure and educational
activities to support your independence & wellbeing
You must keep copies of all bank statements,
receipts and invoices as evidence of how your cash
budget has been spent
Things you can’t spend a
cash budget on!
Some other important things
you need know…
Anything which is illegal • permanent or long-term
residential care • services that would usually be
provided by the NHS • things that do not improve your
quality of life such as alcohol or cigarettes • gambling •
groceries or household goods • services directly
provided by another council • services that the Council
feels may put you or others at risk!
Setting-up a cash budget takes time - you will be
offered ‘interim’ council managed services before
going onto a cash budget
You should also note that it is illegal to pay your
support worker by ‘cash-in-hand’
If you choose to employ your own worker then you will
officially become an employer. As such you’ll have to
pay wages, tax & national insurance, payroll and
insurance from your allocated cash budget.
You cannot normally employ a family member or
partner who lives in the same household as you
If you purchase ‘care’ from an agency, then the care
agency must be licensed by the Care Quality
Commission (CQC)
If you are an existing Adults’ Services customer & owe
an outstanding customer debt to the Council then you
will not be able to transfer to a Cash Budget until this
debt is cleared
Council and independent support staff are available to assist you
throughout the process – from planning and organising your services to
help and advice on managing your finances
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To find out more call Ealing Direct on 0208 825 8475
Appendix 3
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