Paying for personal assistance

Abstract

Eighteen people paid for at least some of the personal assistance they received but for eight of these this was combined with services from either a statutory authority or voluntary organisation and/or help from a relative, partner or friend. There were various sources of funding for paid personal assistants: own resources (earnings, benefits); Independent Living Fund (ILF); direct or indirect payment from the local authority; joint finance (i.e. budget administered by the health authority and the social services department). Most people used a combination of these.