Financial protection for brother with ASD

[Twobigbabies]

Hello! Would be grateful for advice on protecting my brother. He is in his 40's with ASD and has always been quite vulnerable to financial abuse, I remember it happening since childhood. He does not have learning difficulties but has quite significant difficulties with communication, empathy and processing emotions. Recently he lost a rather large amount (thousands) to a scammer who contacted him through an online dating website. I've been thinking of setting up an LPA for financial affairs so I can monitor his affairs more closely, ensure his savings are protected and that he doesn't have access to them without going through me. He has a low paid job but does earn something and I'd like him to spend his money on himself and his retirement rather than giving it to online criminal organisations! Has anyone done something similar? Is it best to go through a solicitor or can i set it up myself? He has capacity but is very vulnerable to scams due to his condition and I think he would agree to it. Thank you!!

I’ve no experience of this, but do have a vulnerable child, and this is just the type of thing I worry about for her future.

Do try to get an LPA in place, and it’s likely worthwhile doing it via a solicitor, to ensure that it’s set up to cover what you need it to cover.

Is this what your brother wants? He has to agree.

It’s lovely that you are thinking about this - I think there are quite a few protections you can put in place. Might be good for both of you to meet with citizen advice or similar together to see what can be done.

You can let the bank know that someone is a vulnerable customer. I was advised by citizens advice bureau.
I've also done it for myself because incase adhd

I would take some advice about this I have a child with severe autism and learning disabilities who will never be able to live independently ,I know there are some courses I have been offered through his school that cover things like financial matters
Im no exepert but both my sister and I have lasting power of attorney for our parents should we need it ,if was something my dad set up a few years ago and himself and my mum had to agree to it should we need to invoke it any point in the future
The national autistic society might be a good place to get advice if your brother had capacity?

Thank you this is really helpful. We have a meeting with the bank next week so I will raise with them. I think he probably would agree as he is quite upset after the last incident and there was one last summer too. It's always been difficult to get the balance right between allowing him his independence and privacy but also protecting him from abuse especially as the online scams are now so sophisticated.

Does he have an appointee for his benefits? If he does then you have proof he is vulnerable which should support a case for taking control of his finances.

He's not currently in receipt of benefits. He receives extra financial support from our parents and lives with them.

He needs to get claiming, better to do it while his parents are living & can support him when he completes the forms & for the assessment. Then his parents may be able to claim carers allowance or at least get the credits.

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