If you are able to, you can continue to manage your own money.
If you are not able to act for yourself, you can authorise someone else to act as your ‘appointee’.
An appointee is a person authorised by the Secretary of State to act on your behalf in relation to your benefits. The appointee is usually a relative, friend or solicitor.
However, if you cannot name an appointee, you can ask us to act as your appointee.
The appointee is responsible for:
- claiming benefits on your behalf and filling in all the relevant application forms
- making sure your benefits are used for the things they are meant to be used for
- making sure you get the most out of your benefits
- telling the Department for Work and Pensions about any changes in your circumstances which may affect the benefits you get
- making any payments for you, including paying your care-home fees
- making sure you receive your personal expenses allowance
If you want to arrange for an appointee to act on your behalf, visit GOV.UK's become an appointee for someone claiming benefits page for more information. If your appointee fails to meet their responsibilities, we may ask the Department for Work and Pensions to cancel the arrangement.
An appointee can only deal with your benefits. If you have other income (for example, a works pension), you will need to get a separate authorisation for somebody to deal with this income.
This authorisation is called a continuing (financial) power of attorney. If you have given someone continuing (financial) power of attorney, that person can manage your finances even if you still have the mental ability to do so, but prefer the person named on the power of attorney to act for you.
You can only give power of attorney if you have the mental ability to grant it. Your mental ability will be assessed through a solicitor, in line with the guidance given in the Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act 2000. This makes sure your interests are protected and that people do not take advantage of you financially.
It is our responsibility to make sure that the person named on your power of attorney acts in your best interests. If we think they are not acting in your best interests, we will ask for their power of attorney to be withdrawn as soon as possible.
If you are not able to manage your finances and you do not have the mental ability to arrange for someone else to act on your behalf, the Office of the Public Guardian (Scotland) can authorise somebody (a relative, friend or solicitor) to deal with your funds. This authorisation is called ‘guardianship’.
For more information or to apply for guardianship, visit the public guardian website.
Next: Paying for the care home