# SDS experience and advice?

**URL:** https://forum.sdsscotland.org.uk/t/sds-experience-and-advice/978
**Category:** Uncategorized
**Created:** [21 June 2025 19:14 UTC](https://forum.sdsscotland.org.uk/t/sds-experience-and-advice/978 "2025-06-21T19:14:29Z")
**Posts on this page:** 1
**Showing post:** 18

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### Author: ![Josh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/45deac/32.png) [@Josh](https://forum.sdsscotland.org.uk/u/Josh)
#### Post date: [23 June 2025 11:42 UTC](https://forum.sdsscotland.org.uk/t/sds-experience-and-advice/978/18 "2025-06-23T11:42:51Z")

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> [@toleranceandrespect](#):
>
> Cant we just use the prepaid allpay cards for this rather than asking them to send the money to our personal bank accounts?

Maybe, I’m not sure how the pre-paid cards work in detail. What happens if you use it to purchase stuff that has non been pre-authorised?

> [@toleranceandrespect](#):
>
> So going gocarting meets that outcome?

It sure looks like it to me.

> [@toleranceandrespect](#):
>
> By traveling it promotes life skills ie and helps her commication development by interacting with her wider family who live far away by using the funds towards the travel costs?

I’d be careful with that one as there might be issues with using the money to benefit yourself and family rather than the supported individual themselves. But it might be OK. This is one where I might have a conversation with my social worker first, not to ask permission (you don’t need permission) but to get her to help you understand if this is a reasonable use of the money given the agreed outcomes and the potential benefit to more than one person. The trouble is the social worker might not get why you are asking them. You might ask “Can you help me think this through?” and they might reply “I’ll speak to my manager who will tell you if you have permission or not,” which would be incredibly irritating. What is you social worker like? Will she understand that you are not asking for permission, but advice?

(Usual disclaimer: this isn’t legal advice, don’t rely on it - get legal advice or work it out for yourself.)

> [@toleranceandrespect](#):
>
> So buying new sensory equipment which was not previously approved could we use this outcome on the plan.
> 
> “To utilise equipment and technology as well as any new resources that would benefit her”

That seems more straightforward, yes.

I make a checklist which you might find useful. I use it for every item of expenditure to make sure I’m within the rules. I collected the rules from legislation, regulations and statutory guidance. I posted it on the forum here: [Resource - Expenditure test sheets](https://forum.sdsscotland.org.uk/t/resource-expenditure-test-sheets/980)

Also here is the letter I wrote to get my DP under my control: [Ask permission before, or check up afterwards? - #13 by Josh](https://forum.sdsscotland.org.uk/t/ask-permission-before-or-check-up-afterwards/708/13)  
I had to follow it up with legal action, but that’s how I started.

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