Service Vouchers in Disability Services Enhance Freedom of Choice
Service vouchers for people with disabilities provide more flexibility and freedom of choice for residents of the Wellbeing Services County. The service voucher is one way for clients to access the services they need. They can use it to receive personal assistance or to arrange care when their informal carer is on leave.
How does it work?
The Wellbeing Services County sets the value of the service voucher and determines which services can be obtained with the voucher. Clients can use the service voucher to buy services from approved service providers. If the service costs more than the value of the service voucher, the clients have to pay the difference, i.e., the out-of-pocket expense, themselves.
Service voucher for personal assistance
Services arranged with the service voucher for personal assistance have no out-of-pocket expenses, as personal assistance is free of charge. The voucher can be granted for a set period or indefinitely.
Home care during an informal carer’s leave
Informal carers have the right to regular breaks from their caregiving duties. When an informal carer is on leave, one can use the service voucher to hire a carer to look after the person receiving informal care (whether child or adult) at their home.
How to apply for a service voucher?
To apply for a service voucher, clients need to contact the Disability Services’ social work unit, which will assess their service needs and decide the services that they can receive with the service voucher. Clients can then select their preferred service provider from the options offered by the Wellbeing Services County.
The service voucher adds more possibilities and flexibility to the disability services. The aim is to support the well-being of both clients and informal carers.