A personal budget is the amount of money that is required to meet your eligible care needs. People who are eligible for support from the council following a social care needs assessment have a personal budget, and you can read more about assessments.

You can choose:

• For your personal budget to be ‘virtual’, where the council manages the money and arranged services for you.  
• To manage the money yourself as a ‘direct payment’ and arrange services yourself, with support if preferred. You can also nominate someone else to manage the direct payment on your behalf.

You can talk through these options and choose the one that is right for you when agreeing your support plan.