Individual Budgets pilots are evaluated

Tuesday 21 October 2008

David Congdon, head of campaigns and policy at learning disability charity Mencap, welcomes the individual budget pilot evaluation published today which shows that people with a learning disability are more likely to feel in control of their lives, but is concerned about the report's finding that few people understood how their individual budget had been calculated.  He says:

"Whilst Mencap is one hundred per cent supportive of individual budgets because of the control it gives people with a learning disability over their lives, there are still areas of concern.

"Firstly, there needs to be more transparency about how individual budgets are calculated.  This would empower people with a learning disability and their carers to better understand to what support they are entitled.     

"Secondly, the system must be properly funded.  Any local authority that puts a maximum upper limit for people who need more complex packages of care are treating individual budgets primarily as a money-saving scheme, rather than a way to give people more control over their lives."

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For further information contact Lucy Hannagan, Mencap press office, lucy.hannagan@mencap.org.uk, 020 7696 6017