Taking over paying bills

[MidnightPomegranite]

I have power of attorney for my elderly mum. She’s recently had an episode of delirium during which she lost capacity for about a week. She’s recovering (independent baseline) but finding managing things an increasing struggle. However - she is very resistant to actual help!
If she remained incapacited, I could use the POA but as it seems likely she will regain capacity, I would need to use other avenues.

If I can persuade her to let me help- does anyone have advice about how i can arrange paying her bills without a POA (if she consents). Has anyone done this recently who can advise please?

I think you can use the finance POA with her permission even if she still has capacity. It's the health & welfare one that kicks in when they lose capacity.
ETA yes you can, see below.

https://www.gov.uk/lasting-power-attorney-duties/property-financial-affairs

We are going through this, DPs are resistant to online banking, we are taking little steps.
We have been added as 'trusted friends' which means we can talk to the bank. I think from this we can also get bank cards.

tbh it is a real pain. Right now I pay some things online from my account and DPs give me cheques to reimburse, but we have to keep v good records due to IHT.

Though yes you can use the POA with consent anyway.

Oh that is such a great and quick response! I promise I have googled and yet … missed this. Thanks so much indeed to both x

Although I am in Scotland the Scot gov website is less clear, it’s a minefield

You can activate the PoA with her bank, and then they will give you a debit card.

Hopefully you ticked the box that said you can use the Finance LPOA at any time, not just when she lacks capacity.

If so you just take it down to the bank with some ID (they prob will want you to book an appointment) and they set you up with your own access, bank card and internet banking.

My DM loves it, she doesn't understand things like internet shopping so we've found it really handy.

Fine in Scotland. My husband does his dad's banking. Fully compos mentis but very poor vision and at 96 can't be bothered (his dad that is 🤣)

You can get third party authority with the bank if she agrees. You would both need to attend an appointment. It is a bit like having a joint account.

www.bankofscotland.co.uk/assets/pdf/HelpCentre/pdf/appointing-someone-to-manage-your-affairs.pdf

@MidnightPomegranite I have a number of suggestions, some of which I have in place.

1. set up a separate current account. If you can make it a joint account. I did this with my Mum’s bank. We went in together and had ID with us. I opened the account online in branch it was very easy. You can set a STO from her account to this one and have all DD going out of this new joint account.
2. Set up a spreadsheet to record everything you spend out of this account, ideally keep/photo receipts to have an audit trail. Much easier to do it from day 1.
3. Set up a separate email account for your Mum (gmail) and use this as her contact for household bills etc. It means you keep everything separate and can login from home and do bills etc. online. You can use this for other things e.g. medical, social services etc. The more you keep her affairs ring fenced but transparent will make it easier for you.
4. At the doctors they should have a form you and your Mum to complete to give you the ability to order repeat prescriptions, book appointments etc. Again this online access means you can help from home.
5. DWP have appointees https://www.gov.uk/become-appointee-for-someone-claiming-benefits Check your Mum is getting her benefits. Attendance Allowance is a benefit she may become entitled to.

HTH

I did this for years because my parents’ English wasn’t great. My parents simply told each company that they give me permission to access and make changes on their behalf and it worked fine. So when I called British Gas for example, they had it in their system that I was allowed to speak for them.

If she consents You can get her to set up a joint account with you.

Mum and I had an appointment with the bank to change her account to a joint account. You get a bank card in your own name and access to online banking. It has worked well without PoA being activated.
However, Mum has her own card and it’s never used so I used it once to pay a bill on line to see if it still worked. A month later, this card was used for a fraudulent transaction in a shop on the other side of the country. I couldn’t deal with this online as the card was not in my name and the bank wouldn’t deal with me so I had to go into the branch to activate the PoA after which I could deal with it.