Young People
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Money and Benefits
We all need access to money to help us to pay for things such as food, clothing, travel, activities, bills and housing. As we become older, most people will become more financially dependent. We can learn how to budget and look after our money, helping us to achieve the best quality of life that we can.
What are benefits?
Benefits and tax credits are payments from the government to help certain people on low incomes or to meet specific needs. Some people can claim benefits to help them if they're living with a health condition or disability. Some people can claim benefits because they have difficulties with everyday tasks or getting around. There are lots of different types of benefits.
You can find out more about different types of benefits at the Citizens Advice website.
If you would like support to look at what benefits you may be entitled to you can contact your local authority on these links:
Nottingham City welfare rights information.
Nottinghamshire County benefits information.
You can also access support from Disability Direct.
If you have any questions about money and benefits, you can also speak to someone at Contact.
In September 2014, the government changed the law to ensure every child and young person with special education needs and disabilities can achieve their best. These are called the SEND reforms. This means that professionals from different services now have to work more closely together. Children and young people have more say about what support and services are offered in the local area, and more health support will be available for some people as they move into adulthood. What is a personal budget? A personal budget is an amount of money made available to you or your family to help with your health needs, social care needs, or for parts of your education. Who can get a personal budget? You can get a personal budget if you are assessed as needing one as part of your EHC plan. What is an EHC plan? An EHC plan is an Education, Health, and Care plan. It’s for anyone up to age 25 who has special educational needs or a learning difficulty, following an assessment by their local authority. How do you get an EHC plan? You, your parents or carers, and your local authority work closely together with your school or college to develop a suitable plan following an assessment. Your local authority must review your EHC plan at least every 12 months. What is an EHC plan assessment? An assessment is a formal process of collecting all the necessary information about you, your family, and anyone currently supporting you. What is discussed in an assessment? It addresses the type of help you need. You’ll be asked what you want as part of this process, so it’s good to think about your goals and aspirations beforehand. If I have an EHC plan, how do I get an educational personal budget? You will need to discuss this with your local authority and school or college, as there are different processes in different areas. If it's a better option, you can make an application, or your school can apply directly on your behalf. Are there different types of personal budgets? Yes, there is a health budget to help with any physical or mental health needs you may have. They can pay for services such as therapy or equipment such as wheelchairs. There are social care personal budgets that help with emotional or practical needs, such as providing respite breaks or care in your home. There are education personal budgets, which can get things to help you at school, such as specialist communication equipment or support to join a club or activity. If I get a personal budget, how can I manage it? There are three ways to manage personal budgets. One way is to have it held by your local authority or NHS; you won’t have to pay for things yourself as they will make transfers on your behalf for the services you need. Another way is to have it held by a provider of services, such as your school or care provider; you won’t have to pay for things yourself either, as they’ll make payments on your behalf. The third way is to have a direct payment of money yourself. It will be managed by you or your family, and you will make payments from this for the services you need. What can I get with an educational personal budget? There are lots of things: extra support in school or extracurricular activities, specialist equipment such as communication software, and support for things such as work experience and training to help you achieve your career goals. Are there things I can’t spend money on with my personal budget? Yes, there are restrictions on what can be purchased, but this will be specific to your individual situation. Why is a personal budget helpful? It can provide you with a lot more choice and control over the services and support that will meet your individual needs in the best way. Once a specific support requirement is identified, a personal budget can help access this in the best way possible for you. Thank you for watching. I hope this has explained what a personal budget is and how you can get one. If you want more information, the Department for Education has produced a guide for young people.
A personal budget is an amount of money available for children, young people and their families based on an assessment of needs. Some people receive personal budgets to pay for certain education, health or social care support.
There are three ways a personal budget can be given:
- Directly to the child's family or directly to the young person if they are over 16.
- To an individual organisation who provides a service
- 'Virtual budget' where instead of money, the young person accesses services provided by the Local Authority
Personal budgets may be received through a mix of the above in some cases.
Whether it's your first time getting money or you've had income for a while, it's important to know how to manage what money comes in and what goes out. This is so that you can make sure you have enough for the essentials, like food and bills, as well as the things you want, like treats and days out.
If you're lost or unsure about how to manage your money, please talk to someone you trust, like a family member, friend or tutor. Most colleges and universities have advisers who can help you to work out what to do next.
The Money Helper Beginner's Guide to Managing Your Money is a great place to start to understand more about:
- Making a budget
- Keeping your budget on track, or get back on track
- Setting a savings goal and reaching it
- What to do if you're struggling or in debt
SEND Local Offer
The Nottingham City Council and Nottinghamshire County Council SEND Local Offers are a great resource for finding events, support and activities in your area.
City Council County Council