Care and support

Advice for carers - helping to make decisions and manage money

If someone you care for needs help to manage their finances, there are various arrangements that can be made, depending on the situation.
If they are capable of making decisions they could

• ask someone they trust to act as their agent and collect their pension/benefits for them, or
• give one or more person they trust legal authority to act for them, and continue to act for them should they become mentally incapable, through an Lasting Power of Attorney.

The law regarding Powers of Attorney changed from 1st October 2007. Enduring Powers of Attorney which were created before this date will continue to be valid.
The Mental Capacity Act has now replaced Enduring Powers of Attorney with two types of Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA).

• A personal welfare LPA is for decisions about both health and personal welfare
• A property and affairs LPA is for decisions about finances, such as managing bank accounts.

For further information please use the link on the right for the Office of the Public Guardian.
If they are incapable of making decisions, formal arrangements for managing their financial affairs should be made which could be by

• arranging an Appointeeship with the Department for Work and Pensions, or
• applying to the Office of the Public Guardian for full legal authority to act on their behalf.,

As every situation depends on individual circumstances, we recommend that you also seek professional advice.