Personal budgets

A personal budget is funding for children and young people who need additional support. A child or young person may have a personal budget from more than one source. For example, from social care, education or health.

A personal budget is different from personalisation as it is a direct payment or funding to meet the child or young person's needs.

The personal budget will:

  • support the child or young person to meet the outcomes in their Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan
  • help families choose the care and services that are most appropriate for them

This short video, produced by the charity KIDS, explains what a personal budget is as well as who can request one and how:

Find out more on this easy-read guide to personal budgets. (PDF)

Benefits of having a personal budget

There are a number of benefits to having a personal budget. These include:

  • an opportunity to empower families
  • increased flexibility, choice, and control in the services that are accessed
  • services potentially being more tailored and personalised to the child or young person’s specific needs and intended outcomes.

Personal budgets may not be appropriate for everyone. It’s important to discuss your options with your assessment coordinator or keyworker.

Who can have a personal budget

Young people and parents of children who have an EHC plan have the right to request a personal budget. It may contain elements of education, social care and health funding.

This will not be possible for all funding. For instance, where it supports the wider costs of educational provision within a school or college or a specialist health service.

A personal budget can be requested:

  • once the local authority has confirmed it will prepare an EHC plan
  • during a statutory review of an EHC plan

At present, the majority of personal budgets relate to:

  • transport
  • continuing care
  • short breaks

We are committed to further developing the range of services available as personal budgets and work is ongoing around this.

Details about eligibility for these and how they would work are set out in the Camden personal budget policy.

During the EHC planning process, you find out more or request a personal budget for services not listed above.

What you cannot spend a personal budget on

Personal budgets cannot be spent on:

  • anything that would put a child or young person at risk of harm
  • anything that would not clearly benefit the child or help meet their intended outcomes
  • employing a family member who lives with you
  • buying services from Camden, but a 'mixed' approach is possible, with a child’s needs being met in part by us and part by direct payments

Support with personal budgets

If your child has an existing EHC plan, you can contact your child’s named Special Educational Needs officer directly.

Phone: 020 7974 6500

Email: [email protected]

The following organisations can also provide support and advice: