The number of people using personal budgets has risen by almost 40% in the last year, according to new research.

The survey by the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS) found the number of people who have been allocated personal budgets by councils in England is now estimated to be around 429,349.

This means more than half (52.8%) of those who are eligible for personal budgets are now using them.

‘Councils have signed up to the use of personal budgets for everyone that needs ongoing, community-based support so that there is transparency about the amount of money available to meet the needs of an individual and to ensure they have choice in how the budget is spent to meet their needs,' said ADASS president, Sarah Pickup.

‘This latest survey shows that most councils are well on the way to achieving this aim by the target date of April 2013.'