money &maths

[Rosetted]

my son can’t handle money and cannot understand maths , I worry about him when I m gone how he will cope with daily life. He has learning disabilities.

[Jofisher]

if your son has the mental capacity to manage his money it’s difficult, you could ask him if he would be willing for you to be a lasting power of attorney. If he lacks capacity then you would need a deputyship but I would seal to the mencap he’ll one and seek their advice.

[Rosetted in reply to Jofisher]

thank you so much for your help.

[Sugar59]

Hello, I'm a single mum and sole carer (with no other support) to my young, adult daughter with a learning disability which includes your son's issues, and I have the same worries about how she'll cope after I'm gone.

I am her Appointee and LPoA as well. I have looked into the Trustee issue but there's still that worry about her day to day issues, especially safety from potential predators etc.

The anxiety is so much more intensified due to their lack of capacity in these important areas.

All the best.

[Oto3]

Our daughter is the same, she has no maths, money concept. We used to play a 'Shop' with her at home. We gave her money and made her purchase items. She can identify values of coins and notes but she has no practical understanding of money value. She understands the money buys her things she needs! We just trust her carers' honesty to handle financial matters. Sorry I don't have answer to your concern but you are not alone in this.

[White25]

Hi, you can buy him some toy money and sit down and teach him, my daughter has LD and I got hurt some toy monies and a cash till and she is getting on well, give it go.

[Galwaybay2]

It is one thing recognising coins and a very much more complex thing understanding value, which is is not generally something that is taught and which we all understand differently. I have found it best to mitigate against my son being cheated and know that's the best I can do. The wider issue here is about how we set up a future for our vulnerable children while we can and banking, trustees, benefits and maybe power of attorney is part of that, it may daunting, but it is worth the pain! While I am alive and able I manage my son's main account (with RBS), and transfer monthly into a Monzo account for his daily expenses for which he has a card. He is in supported living and staff and myself can see fairly quickly if there is a problem but he can't lose more than is there. Nothing is perfect, I know my son could pay £100 for something costing £1, but I have to let that go for his sake.

[White25]

Hi I would sit down and teach him the value of money, I bought my daughter a cash till and toy money and some toy food, she is getting on well, yet I do not think she understands the value of money, she is in residential care home, I have asked them to teach her the value of money. She can save money. I know it is very hard, does she have someone to look after her after you are no longer around. If my daughter was at home she would have me bankrupt by now.

[DorrieReynolds]

My autistic, learning disabled son is 21. I tried for years to do all the above teaching about money, as did his special school. Two years ago I opened a joint account with him, gave him his card for the account and started shopping with him, getting him to use the card without bogging him down with coins etc. Gradually I've been able to withdraw a bit, so that I wait outside the shop (usually WH Smith) while he walks around choosing what he wants, then paying at the till, alone. At the moment he pays by scanning the card. Now I'm working on teaching him the pin number.

It's given him a huge amount of independence.

The account won't allow overdrafts and I keep a limit on what's in it. I opened the account with the bank I've been with for years, so there were fewer hoops to jump through. Hope this helps

[BenjiB]

I’m the dwp appointee for my son so his money is paid to me and I transfer money to his support workers when he needs it. I mostly give them cash but they slso have a hyper jar card in my name they can use. I’m in the process of setting him up his own bank account. My daughter is only 17 but when I can’t manage his money anymore she’ll take over as appointee.