{"id":2907,"date":"2024-03-21T17:47:10","date_gmt":"2024-03-21T17:47:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/handbook.scot\/sds-handbook\/?post_type=article&#038;p=2907"},"modified":"2025-05-06T11:14:25","modified_gmt":"2025-05-06T11:14:25","slug":"your-support-budget","status":"publish","type":"article","link":"https:\/\/handbook.scot\/sds-handbook\/article\/your-support-budget\/","title":{"rendered":"Your support budget"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div data-mode=\"normal\" data-oembed=\"1\" data-provider=\"youtube\" id=\"arve-youtube-8e6qudvjvl4\" style=\"max-width:900px;\" class=\"arve\">\n\t<div class=\"arve-inner\">\n\t\t<div style=\"aspect-ratio:500\/281\" class=\"arve-embed arve-embed--has-aspect-ratio\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"arve-ar\" style=\"padding-top:56.200000%\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t<iframe allow=\"accelerometer &apos;none&apos;;autoplay &apos;none&apos;;bluetooth &apos;none&apos;;browsing-topics &apos;none&apos;;camera &apos;none&apos;;clipboard-read &apos;none&apos;;clipboard-write;display-capture &apos;none&apos;;encrypted-media &apos;none&apos;;gamepad &apos;none&apos;;geolocation &apos;none&apos;;gyroscope &apos;none&apos;;hid &apos;none&apos;;identity-credentials-get &apos;none&apos;;idle-detection &apos;none&apos;;keyboard-map &apos;none&apos;;local-fonts;magnetometer &apos;none&apos;;microphone &apos;none&apos;;midi &apos;none&apos;;otp-credentials &apos;none&apos;;payment &apos;none&apos;;picture-in-picture;publickey-credentials-create &apos;none&apos;;publickey-credentials-get &apos;none&apos;;screen-wake-lock &apos;none&apos;;serial &apos;none&apos;;summarizer &apos;none&apos;;sync-xhr;usb &apos;none&apos;;web-share;window-management &apos;none&apos;;xr-spatial-tracking &apos;none&apos;;\" allowfullscreen=\"\" class=\"arve-iframe fitvidsignore\" credentialless data-arve=\"arve-youtube-8e6qudvjvl4\" data-lenis-prevent=\"\" data-src-no-ap=\"https:\/\/www.youtube-nocookie.com\/embed\/8E6qUDvjvl4?feature=oembed&amp;iv_load_policy=3&amp;modestbranding=1&amp;rel=0&amp;autohide=1&amp;playsinline=0&amp;autoplay=0\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"505.8\" loading=\"lazy\" name=\"\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-presentation allow-popups allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\" scrolling=\"no\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube-nocookie.com\/embed\/8E6qUDvjvl4?feature=oembed&#038;iv_load_policy=3&#038;modestbranding=1&#038;rel=0&#038;autohide=1&#038;playsinline=0&#038;autoplay=0\" title=\"\" width=\"900\"><\/iframe>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t\n\t<script type=\"application\/ld+json\">{\"@context\":\"http:\\\/\\\/schema.org\\\/\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/handbook.scot\\\/sds-handbook\\\/article\\\/your-support-budget\\\/#arve-youtube-8e6qudvjvl4\",\"type\":\"VideoObject\",\"embedURL\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.youtube-nocookie.com\\\/embed\\\/8E6qUDvjvl4?feature=oembed&iv_load_policy=3&modestbranding=1&rel=0&autohide=1&playsinline=0&autoplay=0\"}<\/script>\n\t\n<\/div>\n<h2><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">What is a support budget?<\/span><\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Your support budget is the amount of money your council decides is the right amount to pay for the support you need.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">How do I find out what my budget is?<\/span><\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Once you have had an assessment, you should find out your \u201cindicative budget\u201d. This is the rough amount of money you will have to pay for your support.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Knowing your indicative budget will help you when you make your support plan.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Find out more about making your support plan here: <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/handbook.scot\/sds-handbook\/article\/your-support-plan\/\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\" data-contrast=\"auto\">Your Support Plan<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">When you have made your support plan based on your indicative budget, this will be agreed and signed off.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Your indicative budget will be tweaked up or down depending on the costs in your support plan. Then you will know what your agreed support budget is.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">What can I use my support budget for?<\/span><\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">It is important that you and your social worker are clear on what you are going to use your budget to purchase, and agree that this will meet your outcomes (the things that are important to you).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">You should be able to be flexible in how you use your support budget. You do not need to use a budget to purchase a certain number of hours of support. You can purchase the support that means most to you.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Find out more here: <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/handbook.scot\/sds-handbook\/article\/understanding-a-support-budget\/\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\" data-contrast=\"auto\">Understanding a support budget<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Who decides how my budget should be used?<\/span><\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">You can choose how much direct control and responsibility you want to have for managing your budget.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"30\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">You can decide how to use your budget, and handle the money yourself (with help if from someone else if you need it)<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"30\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">You can decide how to use your budget, but get someone else to handle the money for you<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"30\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">You can let your council decide how best to use your budget.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The amount of budget you get may be different depending on which of these options you choose.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">This is because it costs different amounts of money to arrange support in different ways.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Find out more in this section: <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><a style=\"color: #000000;\" href=\"https:\/\/handbook.scot\/sds-handbook\/route\/your-options-for-controlling-your-support\/\">Your options for controlling your support<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">What should I know about my budget?<\/span><\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">It is a good idea to ask your social worker these questions to understand more about your budget:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"4\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">How long will the money be available to you?<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"4\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">What can the budget be spent on?<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"4\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Does the council have rules about what you cannot spend your budget on?<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"4\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Will you manage your budget yourself, or is someone else going to manage it?<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"4\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">If you are managing it yourself, how often they will give you the money? Is it weekly, monthly or every three months?<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"4\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">What are your responsibilities around managing your budget?<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"4\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">What guidance and support can they give you about managing the money?<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Your council should also tell you about other organisations who can help you understand and manage your budget.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Will I have to pay some of my own money towards my support budget?<\/span><\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Depending on where you live, you might need to put some of your own money towards your support budget. Children and unpaid carers should not have to do this.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Find out more about paying towards your support here: <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/handbook.scot\/sds-handbook\/article\/paying-towards-your-social-care-support-care-charging\/\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Paying towards your social care support (care charging)<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Next steps<\/span><\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Find out more about support budgets and where to get help, here: <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/handbook.scot\/sds-handbook\/article\/understanding-a-support-budget\/\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Understanding a support budget<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Once you have had an assessment, you will find out how much money you will be able to access to pay for your support. This is called your support budget. This page explains some important things to know about a support budget.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-2907","article","type-article","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/handbook.scot\/sds-handbook\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/article\/2907","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/handbook.scot\/sds-handbook\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/article"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/handbook.scot\/sds-handbook\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/article"}],"version-history":[{"count":14,"href":"https:\/\/handbook.scot\/sds-handbook\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/article\/2907\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3531,"href":"https:\/\/handbook.scot\/sds-handbook\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/article\/2907\/revisions\/3531"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/handbook.scot\/sds-handbook\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2907"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}