Has anyone got experience of applying for a personal budget for Mental health support? Not DLA or PIP, but something else that Mind's national website is "not in addition to mental health services and support, but a different way of making the ‘social care’ element of the funding "
I've been in contact with Mind locally, hoping to use some of their day centre type services as a start to being in contact with people. It seems that since April this year, they are no longer funded, but charge for every service. They have told me that I need to apply for a Personal Budget, and seem to think that the NHS Mental Health people should have told me about it.
After a quick google, it looks as though this is administered by the County Council. I found the whole ATOS process awful - it made my symptoms much worse, and I'm afraid of repeating that. Does anyone know what it is like to go through. Again, Mind's website descibes these steps, which sound way beyond anything I could contemplate.
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I suspect that it is just another way to reduce care funding, on the assumption that lots of people like me won't want or be able to apply.
I've been in contact with Mind locally, hoping to use some of their day centre type services as a start to being in contact with people. It seems that since April this year, they are no longer funded, but charge for every service. They have told me that I need to apply for a Personal Budget, and seem to think that the NHS Mental Health people should have told me about it.
After a quick google, it looks as though this is administered by the County Council. I found the whole ATOS process awful - it made my symptoms much worse, and I'm afraid of repeating that. Does anyone know what it is like to go through. Again, Mind's website descibes these steps, which sound way beyond anything I could contemplate.
"
- You have a needs assessment to establish which needs you have that can be supported ('eligible needs')
- You are allocated an 'indicative budget' (estimated budget)
- You develop a 'support' or 'care' plan for using the indicative budget to meet your eligible needs.
- You submit your plan for approval to your local authority
- You revise your plan if necessary.
- Once your plan is approved, you will be told the final amount of your Personal Budget and can make the necessary arrangements to get the support you have chosen.
- You will be asked to attend a review of your plan and the amount of your Personal Budget on a regular basis (this generally varies between 3 and 12 month intervals, depending on circumstances)"
I suspect that it is just another way to reduce care funding, on the assumption that lots of people like me won't want or be able to apply.
