1. What is a Carer’s Personal Budget?

A Carer’s Personal Budget is a way to support carers to take a break from caring and improve their health and wellbeing.
It is awarded specifically to enable you to ‘switch off’ from your caring responsibilities by taking time for yourself away from your caring role.

2. Who is Eligible?

To be considered for a Carer’s Personal Budget, you must meet the following criteria:

1. Age and Role

   • You must be 18 years old or over and caring without payment for a friend or family member living in Plymouth who, because of old age, disability, long-term illness, mental health condition, or addiction, cannot care for themselves without support.
     (Carer’s Allowance is not classed as payment.)

2. Previous Payments

   • You must not have received money from a personal budget or direct payment from Plymouth City Council in the last 12 months.

3. Use of Funds

   • You must use the funds allocated to enable you to ‘switch off’ from your caring responsibilities, as agreed in your carers assessment

Additional Requirements:

• You must care for someone who lives in Plymouth (pays their council tax to Plymouth City Council)
• The Carer’s Personal Budget is not an automatic entitlement. It is awarded when you have an eligible need for support that cannot be met in another way.
• You can only be considered once every 12 months - 18 months

3. How Do I Apply?

We will need to undertake a Carer’s Assessment with you to understand your support needs.
If your assessment shows needs that cannot be met another way, you may receive a one-off Carer’s Personal Budget payment.

If we assesses you as eligible:

• We will agree how the money is due to be spent.
• Request payment details.
• The money awarded will be paid directly into your bank account.

Processing Time:
Applications can take up to 4 weeks to process.

4. How Will We Agree Your Level of Need?

We will use information from your Carer’s Assessment and consider:

• What other support you have (e.g., family who can step in).
• How your caring role affects your:
  • Health and wellbeing.
  • Stress levels.
  • Ability to remain in or return to work.
  • Relationships and family life.
  • Ability to continue caring.

5. What Can’t You Use a Carer’s Personal Budget For?

You cannot use the budget for:

• Assessed charges for Plymouth City Council services for the person you care for, or the cost of a break for them.
• Services that should be provided by other statutory agencies (e.g., school trips, equipment, adaptations).
• Activities or personal/intimate care exclusively for the person you care for.
• Items covered by welfare benefits (e.g., income support).
• Clothing, food, alcohol, or illegal substances.
• Holidays or breaks already taken or paid for.
• Costs of breaks or holidays booked before your Carer’s Assessment.
• Debts and household bills.
• Gambling (including bingo and lottery).

If you have previously received a Carer’s Personal Budget, this does not mean you will automatically receive it again each year. A review of your caring role will take place 12–18 months after your first assessment or your last review. You do not need to contact us — we will get in touch when your review is due.

If your caring role changes significantly before your next scheduled review, please let us know so we can decide whether an earlier review is needed.