Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether an individual in receipt of a personal budget as part of a care and support plan can allocate funds from that budget to funding care for their pets.

Personal budgets (particularly direct payments) are designed to be used flexibly and innovatively and so there should be no unreasonable restriction placed on the use of the payment, as long as it is being used to meet eligible care and support needs in line with the care and support plan agreed between those requiring care and their local team which includes healthcare professionals. The local authority then has a duty to ensure that their care meets the needs of the eligible person, and to continue to oversee that care to ensure it addresses the identified needs.

The Department does not make specific recommendations on what should be included in care and support plans, nor do we require local authorities to identify the role of companion animals. Instead, there are exclusions listed within the regulations. Taking this into account, it is the responsibility of clinicians and local teams, in co-operation with patients, their families and carers, to determine what will be included in the care and support plan.