Disability Discrimination (Dementia)

[PoorFatBoy]

My DM has Alzheimer's. I have POA for both finance and health. As I live a distance away her carer does her shopping and in order to facilitate this we use a pre paid card that is left at my mum's house and I can top it up online when funds run low. It is accepted in the supermarket where the carer does my mum's shopping and it has been working wonderfully.

Once the card is topped up by over £750 the company does an identity check to guard against money laundering. This happened yesterday and they wanted me to provide proof of name and date of birth (of my mum) and proof of address. My mum does not hold a passport, driving license, id card or anything they would accept as proof of name and dob. So I sent them a utility bill to prove the address and a copy of the POA which includes name, address and dob. I also sent them a copy of a letter addressed to her GP which states her name, address and dob. They asked me if I had anything from DWP which I have, but it comes to me, to my address because I have POA, but of course mentions her name so I sent them that.

They have now come back and said that she cannot hold one of their cards due to her Dementia!!!!!! Yes, they have put that in writing in an email and have said their legal department said this. What do I say to them? I am beyond furious.

[Rosa]

If you have POA then surely they can't do this ?? I am not a legal person but it sounds terrible . That is what POA is for for heavens sake !

[lougle]

Is it a capacity issue? If her dementia means that she lacks capacity to use or authorise the use of the card, it may throw up fraud implications. You have POA for her financial affairs, but that possibly (only speculating, here) doesn't stretch to applying for a card in her name because you're in essence claiming to be her? Of course that's not what you're really doing, but I doubt they have systems set up for third party application.

Could you get one in your name 'on behalf of Mrs PoorFatBoy's Mother' - that way it would be your application but for your mother?

[lougle]

There are similar issues with social services direct payments for children. The payments have to be payed into an account in the child's name, but the child is too young to hold an account, so you have to convince the bank to open an account with the name 'lougle on behalf of lougle's DD1', which the bank finds all too complicated, but SS won't progress until there is an account in the child's name.

[CotswoldStrife]

Is this because it is a pre-paid card in your mother's name, because I can see their point. Anyone could misuse the card when the money has been put on it

[Penfold007]

It's not disability discrimination it's safeguarding a vulnerable adult. You have POA as, sadly, your mum no longer has capacity. The supermarket is acting correctly. I say this as I'm going through similar with my parent and not to annoy you.

[Alibobbob]

Does the card have to be in your Mum's name? Can they refund all money to you then you can have a card in your name? Would that work?

[Wolpertinger]

Does the card have to be in your mum's name?

Given you trust the carer to use a pre-paid credit card why can't you administer your mum's account to pay you £750 at intervals and put this on a card in your name that is left at your mum's house and used to pay for her shopping.