appointee

[windywill]

Is it right that as my daughters appointee her benefits are paid to me in a bank account that is just in my name.

[Jofisher]

No my sons money was paid into a bank account that I setup so his money could be paid into that account as I didn’t want his money going into my account as it would look like I have more money than I did.

[Galwaybay2 in reply to Jofisher]

I seem to remember my son had to have his own account for which I have agreed with them to manage, (after he reached 19) and I had to do this formally. It does seem odd that someone else's money can be paid to you and quite disrespectful of the rights of your child, whatever their capability.

[BenjiB]

It’s ok if you want to do it like that. All my son’s money comes into my personal account. I then transfer it into his.

[windywill in reply to BenjiB]

Beings as i am her appointee and her benefits have to be paid to me in a account in my name only. Would it be ok if i transfered any left over money into a account in my daughters name. Thats if i can get her to open one. Would the local authority take over when i can no longer manage to be her appointee

[BenjiB in reply to windywill]

I’m not sure what happens when you can no longer manage it. I’ve never thought that far ahead! My son is 22.

[windywill in reply to BenjiB]

after the benefits have been paid to me in my bank account, Would i be able to transfer money in to a account in my daughters name. Is your daughters account just in her name

[BenjiB in reply to windywill]

It’s my son and he doesn’t have his own account. I have a Barclays account with separate “sub accounts”. I use one of those sub accounts for his money.

[windywill in reply to BenjiB]

hi again Sorry to keep bothering you but no idea what i am doing. what is a sub account

[BenjiB in reply to windywill]

Hi it’s no bother. I have a Barclays account and it has several smaller accounts attached to it called “pots”. I’ve got one for bills, one for savings and one for my son’s money. Not sure if all bank accounts have them.

[windywill in reply to BenjiB]

hi again Dont barclays do a appointee account. Do you know if there is a limit to how much money can be in their appointee account

[BenjiB in reply to windywill]

I think they do. I think that’s for when the person has their own account to start with though and the “appointee” wants access to that account. I’ve idea how much money can be in there. My son gets universal credit, if that goes over £16,000 it starts to affect the amount he gets. It never goes anywhere near that though. As I say I just get it paid to me and then transfer it out again. I don’t claim any benefits myself so it doesn’t get complicated.

[class9F]

My sons money is paid into an account in my name which I opened when he turned 16 and I became his appointee but it is only his benefits in there. I tried to add his name to the account when he turned 18 but as a birth certificate is not proof of Id and he doesn’t have a passport I have been unable to do it. He has an old passbook run building society account opened when he was a child which I transfer money to. He likes going to the building society and asking for his money.

[LDAutie in reply to class9F]

hi class9f, i am under an corporate appointee and have never had any id,unless my blue badge was given to them and accepted,there must be a way round it,i will ask my staff on now if they know anything.

if you ever want to get your sons name added,woud the citizen card work as id for him? i was going to get one as general id as i wont ever get a passport or be able to drive,i think this card is the only recognised proper id card in the UK,my sister works in asda and i know its the only one theyll accept as id other than passport and drivers licence.

this is the card: citizencard.com/

might be worth asking the bank if theyll take it as id.

[Rigsbysmum]

Hi I have always had my sons benefits paid into my account and I have set up another account in my name just for him which I transfer them into. I was unable to set up his own account as he was unable to agree to the terms and conditions of a bank account for himself as he is not able to comprehend the significance of signing formal documents. Barclays were quite unhelpful.

[Jofisher]

I agree it was really important to me that he had his own bank account in his own name, so I applied for a deputyship for Property and finance and once I had that I then applied for the health and well-being deputyship. My son lacks mental capacity so I had to do a deputyship if he’d had mental capacity and he was happy for me to manage his account etc with him we could have done a lasting power of attorney. Sadly due to his lack of mental capacity it had to be a deputyship you have to complete it online on the gov.u.k. Website it’s not the easiest of forms to complete but it’s well worth it.

[learner01]

I agree it does feel odd, but that seems to be what the system is. The DWP do formally appoint you as an Appointee before paying any benefits into the account and it’s best to have a separate one. I found Lloyds very helpful and there were no problems opening an account with them. What can lead to problems is when someone dies. My aunt who sadly died last year was her daughter’s Appointee and her daughter’s benefits were paid into the account that my aunt had for them. This account was in my aunt’s name and the money in it cannot be accessed until probate is granted for my aunt’s estate.

Fortunately her daughter was in a care home and social services paying for her care so there have not been immediate large financial difficulties.

Not only was the Appointee account ‘locked’ so to speak but as soon as the DWP were notified of my aunt’s death all benefits payments stopped and weren’t restarted until I had been authorised to be the new Appointee. It took almost 3 months before benefits payments began again and I had to spend a long time on the phone getting things sorted out.

[49Twister]

Hi I am my son’s appointee and have been for many years, he is 46 now. We have a joint account in both our names where his benefits only are paid into. This is classed as his account so any direct debits or cash he needs comes out of this account. I have a separate account in my name only where my benefits etc go into. I think it’s best to keep each other’s money separate especially if your on benefits so there is no confusion. It’s worked for us for many years. Also if anything happened to me my son’s name is on his account so he would still be able to access his money with support from someone.

[Blackhouse]

My adult daughter does not have the mental capacity to understand the terms and conditions of opening a bank account and cannot read or write. Banks, therefore, will not allow her to have an account. As her appointee, all her benefits have to be paid into my account. I opened another account and pay any of her savings into that.

[49Twister in reply to Blackhouse]

My son too can’t read or write or understand the terms and conditions regarding a bank account but this was how things were done 30 years ago when I opened a bank account with his name on. It has always been a joint account where both our benefits etc went into. It was only when the benefits system changed in 2015 I think, that I was advised to open a separate account in my name only and have my money etc paid into that so it was separate, which works better. I appreciate things are probably done different today but I like the idea of a joint account so he can still withdraw money with support if I’m not around, as after all it’s his money, and should have access at all times.

[Ronca]

I decided that I didn't want to be manage my sons finances as I was concerned that if I had memory problems, for example, this could cause problems.

I requested the local authority Guardianship Team be appointed and its the best decision I have made.

It works really well for us with all bills going directly to the team for payment

He has a pre loaded money card organised by the appointee that we use for ad hoc expenses, holidays etc.,

If you don't have family or backup it gives peace of mind and that's priceless.