Easiest way to managing paying for care etc. Use LPA or become additional bank cardholder

[falstaff1980]

Hi,

My dad is getting weaker and struggling to get online to do the bank transfers he has been doing up to now, to pay for things like plumbers. I often pay for services myself, and he then does a bank transfer to me, but even sending to a regular payee with saved details (me) is becoming a struggle.

I got LPAs done (applied months ago, finally registered last week). Not tried to use the LPA yet, don't know how complicated it is to get setup with my dad's bank (Natwest), wondering if it might be easier for me to become a second cardholder on his account, and then I can just pay for things with this card?

Does he need his card ?

Ignore that

Use the LPA, it gives you both protection under the Law.
And activate the LPA with the bank, it can take several weeks for them to put it in action

Some, possibly all, banks offer third party access where the 3rd party gets a card and access to online banking, but to set it up you usually have to visit a branch with the person whose account it is. It might be easier though to just register the POA with the bank as that shouldn't need to involve him at all and with some banks you can do it online. But bear in mind that if he's ticked the "only when I lose capacity" box on the POA the bank may assume he's lost capacity and block his card and his access to his account - this happened with my mum and it was a PITA to get it resolved.

LPA is only used when there is no longer mental capacity.

You can get an Ordinary Power of Attorney drafted by a solicitor or some banks offer third party access, but your Dad would have to go into a branch to set it up.

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/family/looking-after-people/managing-affairs-for-someone-else/

It is not correct that an LPA for finance can only be used when capacity is lost.

Hopefully when you applied for it you ticked the box saying it could be used straight away.

If so all you have to do is take yourself, some ID, and the original document to the bank and they will set you up with online banking and your own card. I was impressed how easy it was.

LPA is only used when there is no longer mental capacity. Not true.

True for Health and Welfare LPA.

for Financial LPA, donor can tick a box saying it can be used when donor still has capacity.

@falstaff1980 You may find you need to pay by bank transfer, card not accepted. Particularly once he needs carers.

Banks are getting much better at dealing with LPAs now they are more widely used

Not true.

My DB and I had and used LPA for my mum who had capacity but communication issues.

Different financial institutions have different requirements for registering the LPA with them. One bank requires us to go there in person. Another accepted phone calls/mail.

It’s pretty easy to sort out, especially as the OP already has the LPA.

Recently applied LPA to my mum's natwest account. A few forms but really quick and efficient (though i also have a natwest account so that made it easier). Natwest has been a really smooth process compared to her other accounts, so couldn't fault them.

I stand corrected, you need to check whether your Dad stated that he wanted the LPA only to come into effect only if he lost capacity. My Dad's did that is why I thought an LPA could only be used if no mental capacity, sorry for misleading information.

NatWest seems one of the easier banks to register the POA.

supportcentre.natwest.com/View-or-change-your-details/Add-a-party-to-an-account/913207362/I-ve-just-been-made-Power-of-Attorney-how-can-I-register-this-with-you.htm

Whatever you decide, please keep good records of your spending from his account so there are no issues or accusations in the future.

Definitely LPA, it makes life so much easier. My parents had accounts with Nationwide and Virgin (used to be Yorkshire) and both institutions made things really easy.