GLOSSARY OF TERMS
The following list contains all of the abbreviations that are used in this report. Where they concern particular sources of funding a brief description is provided of the criteria that are applied in determining a client's eligibility and any other significant features.
Access to Work ( ATW)
This is a UK-wide programme that is designed to assist people whose health or disability affects the way they do their job. It gives the person and their employer advice and support with extra costs which might arise because of their needs.
Access To Work might pay for such costs as equipment to enable someone to work, adapting premises to meet someone's needs or a support worker. It will also pay towards transport costs.
Disabled - Living Allowance ( DLA)
DLA is a UK-wide tax free living allowance for children and adults who need help with personal care or have walking difficulties because they have a physical or mental disability. It is not available for people who are over 65 years of age when they claim. DLA has two components - a care component (3 levels according to need) and a mobility component (2 levels according to need). Claimants may be eligible for one or both, depending on their needs.
Claimants who receive the higher rate care component are eligible to be considered for an additional payment from the Independent Living Fund (see below) and those in receipt of the mobility component may take advantage of the Motability scheme to purchase a specially adapted vehicle.
Direct Payment - ( DP)
These are cash payments made to individuals who have been assessed as needing services, in lieu of social work provision. Applicants are subject to eligibility criteria that are applied by local authorities. These typically restrict access to services to people with critical needs. The value of a Direct Payment reflects the cost to the local authority of providing the alternative social work service.
Direct Payment Agency ( DPA)
The name of the local support service for clients in receipt of Self Directed Support, in the Borders Council area.
Disabled Student Allowance ( DSA)
The Disabled Student Allowance is a UK-wide grant to help students meet the extra course costs they can face as a direct result of disability, mental health condition or specific learning disability. The allowance is paid on top of any other student finance package and does not have to be repaid.
Fife Direct Payment Support Service ( FDPSS)
The original name of the support service for those in receipt of Self Directed Support in the Fife Council area, which has now been superseded by an in-house Council service.
Free Personal Care ( FPC)
Free personal care is available to everyone in Scotland over the age of 65, who have been assessed as having care needs and as meeting local eligibility criteria.
Funding Independence Team ( FIT)
The central team created by the City of Edinburgh Council Social Work Department to support and administer Self Directed Support.
Independent Living Fund ( ILF)
The Independent Living Fund is designed to enable people who are severely disabled to live independently at home rather than in residential care. It is available to people who are over 16 years old and under 65 years of age when they apply.
If a person's care package costs more than £320 a week (recently increased from £200) and the client is eligible for higher rate DLA and cannot afford to purchase their care then ILF will make a contribution. It is a discretionary payment that is managed within rules set by Trustees of the Fund. The fund's present declared priority is to support people in order that they can continue to work, rather than those who require a very intensive and costly 24/7 care package.
ILF payments can go up to £375 plus the client's contribution per week or £455 per week if the DP is greater than £250 per week. For the first 6 months ILF's contribution is capped to ensure that the overall value of a package does not exceed £785 per week.
Individual Budget ( IB)
The term used to describe the single pot of money created by bringing together a variety of public funds, including social care and health, so that clients can directly purchase their support. This term is most commonly used in England. The process is already possible under the Scottish system.
Lothian Centre for Independent Living ( LCIL)
The Edinburgh based centre which provides the local SDS support service in Edinburgh.
Personal Assistant ( PA)
The job title of paid carers who work for SDS clients.
Self Directed Support ( SDS)
Support that is purchased directly by clients using funds from a variety of public sources, including health and social care, which is sometimes brought together into a single pot.
Supporting People ( SP)
Until 1 April 2008 this UK wide policy and funding framework provided housing related funding and support to vulnerable people to enable them to maintain a stable environment and thereby retain greater independence. It has now been incorporated into the overall envelope of local authority funding allocated by the Scottish Government.