Please or to access all these features

Elderly parents

At home, no capacity and no deputyship - access to money

233 replies

roundaboutthehillsareshining · 22/07/2025 08:39

So my elderly relative is being discharged home with a care package. Fine, it's what she wants and it's the least restrictive option, so it's got to happen this way (even if it falls apart in a few months and she ends up back in hospital for 6 months). Anyway, there's nothing physically wrong and no dementia. Her team believe she has a new functional MH condition, but that can't be diagnosed in hospital and she won't engage with community care, so that's a dead end.

However, it's likely she's going to be found to lack capacity to manage her financial affairs. Her bank account set up is hopelessly complicated (at her choice) and can only be administered in branch, which she's not going to be able to access.

So if she's at home, and unable to access money, how does she pay for food etc until the deputyship comes through? The family can't afford to subsidise her, she isn't eligible for benefits as she's got money coming in, she just can't access it. So what happens? Anyone been in this situation before?

OP posts:
thedevilinablackdress · 22/07/2025 09:46

For food, can 'she' set up online supermarket delivery?
I set this up for DM and do the weekly order, but with her card details registered on the account.

roundaboutthehillsareshining · 22/07/2025 09:39

Soontobe60 · 22/07/2025 08:49

Who’s assessing her capacity?

Her capacity is being assessed by Social Services. This is all above board -she has an independent advocate, we're happy that the process is being followed correctly. From discussions with her advocate and social worker, it's expected that she will be found to be lacking capacity in both personal care and financial affairs (she has already found to lack personal care capacity).

OP posts:
roundaboutthehillsareshining · 22/07/2025 09:38

Jin25 · 22/07/2025 08:45

Why not contact Social Services or somewhere like Age UK (or the regional version for your area) for advice.

This is with Social Services - their advice is that LPoA or Deputyship will need to be put in place. But they won't advise on what happens while the Deputyship application is ongoing, and LPoA is not an option.

OP posts:
RainSoakedNights · 22/07/2025 09:06

If she is assessed as lacking capacity - that’s that. You need a deputyship in order to manage her money.

You can go online (or do it by phone) and become appointee for her benefits. This allows you to do a little - you can use her state pension for her day to day needs, for example. That’s a pretty instant thing. If she’s paying for her own care, she should be eligible for attendance allowance.

You CANNOT use her cards etc., to get her food. Care fees etc. will need to wait - and the care companies will need to wait. They will be used to this and they will try and pressure you into paying, but they won’t.

IckyPop · 22/07/2025 09:03

Assessing capacity is a very nuanced thing and to be done by an expert as capacity can take many forms. My friend is a expert in capacity, lasting powers of attorney etc (a lawyer and a health professional so uniquely dual qualified), so knowing a little through her I would say your first step is to arrange for a professional to assess your relative’s capacity.

Kissmycousinkate · 22/07/2025 09:01

Can you make her account joint? Speak to the bank they possibly will have a short term work around until you get sorted long term

Soontobe60 · 22/07/2025 08:49

Who’s assessing her capacity?

Jin25 · 22/07/2025 08:45

Why not contact Social Services or somewhere like Age UK (or the regional version for your area) for advice.