Personal budgets have been available in Germany for some time now as a new form of statutory social benefits. Instead of in-kind benefits from social service providers to professional service providers, they now include direct cash payments to disabled individuals and others in need of assistance and care, enabling them to lead an independent life and participate in social life outside of institutional settings. Contrary to the prevailing practice under the in-kind benefit principle, personal budgets aim to provide those affected with the opportunity to take responsibility for their own social service needs in a way that is tailored to their requirements and needs. While personal budgets have been established as standard forms of direct cash benefits for people in need of assistance in other Western European countries for over ten years.