Right to Control
Right to Control is a new legal right for disabled people and is currently being tested in a number of local authority areas across England.
What is Right to Control?
Right to Control gives people who are eligible to receive certain services more choice and control about how they receive them. Building on the Government's commitment to the personalisation of support through Personal Budgets to meet peoples social care needs, the Right to Control model also brings in housing and employment related support funding streams into one joined up service.
What funding streams are included within the Right to Control and what options are available?
The Right to Control means that people who are eligible will be able to choose how money is spent to support them if they are a new applicant for one or more of the following services:
1. Employment support:
- Access to Work.
- Work Choice.
2. Housing support:
- Disabled Facilities Grants.
- Supporting People.
3. Adult social care.
4. Independent Living Fund (for people already in receipt of this).
People can choose how to receive their support by:
- Using existing services.
- Receiving it as a cash amount called a ‘direct payment’ and purchasing their own support.
- Combining a mix of these.
Which locations are testing Right to Control?
A number of local authorities are currently testing Right to Control.
- Essex County Council.
- Leicester City Council.
- London Borough of Barnet.
- London Borough of Newham.
- Epsom and Ewell Borough Council, and Reigate and Banstead Borough Council (which are part of Surrey County Council).
- Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council.
- Sheffield City Council.
- Manchester City Council.
- Oldham Council.
- Bury Council.
- Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council.
- Trafford Council.
Am I eligible for Right to Control?
If you have a support need which comes within the funding areas included in Right to Control, you will first need to meet certain eligibility criteria.
Contact details
You can contact your local Action for Blind People team who will support you to find out if Right to Control is available to you. Contact details are available for your local Action team and nearest local authority.
