Help with Deputyship fees for Father in Law

[GiveMeStrength2day]

DH needs to get Deputyship (more so for Health) for his Dad. Dad has advanced dementia and doesn't have capacity to sign anything like this. There is a fee attached which seems to be £365 and then an annual fee. I'm not sure if DH is liable for this or his Dad.

Neither DH or FIL are able to pay this. There is an application form to apply for assistance but it seems to be asking for details of income support, salary, outgoings etc. The problem with this is that DH has many debts to try and cover each month (not his fault) and we live hand to mouth every month (I don't work).

It's a VERY long and complicated story as to why DH and FIL do not have the means to pay but it's to do with DH's brother stealing a VERY large amount of money from FIL (going to Crown Court). The financial impact it's had on DH (and me) is awful.

The only income FIL has is his pension and every penny of that goes on top-up fees for his carehome (+ his funeral plan)

Does anyone know if there's a "grey area"/discretionary application to get the Deputyship fees waived? I've tried calling the Court of Protection several times but they aren't answering their phones.

We just want to be able to have some kind of say in FIL's health matters as at the moment we are only getting sporadic updates from the carehome (who know more than we do!)

Thank you

I don't know the answer to waiving fees in cases of hardship. Unfortunately the Deputyship process is expensive and very long. It's not just fees, it's independent assessors. I am in the middle of the process now.

However, my solicitor said granting Deputyship for health is extremely unusual. It's generally only for finances. Health is used if there are big differences in opinion or disputes between family members and/or doctors about any treatment.

Given the difficulties in paying, and the length of the process, is it really necessary? The care home should be working with the family to make best interest decisions for your father in law.

I don't know the answer to waiving fees in cases of hardship. Unfortunately the Deputyship process is expensive and very long. It's not just fees, it's independent assessors. I am in the middle of the process now.

However, my solicitor said granting Deputyship for health is extremely unusual. It's generally only for finances. Health is used if there are big differences in opinion or disputes between family members and/or doctors about any treatment.

Given the difficulties in paying, and the length of the process, is it really necessary? The care home should be working with the family to make best interest decisions for your father in law.

Maybe we don't need it then. I have POA for my mum (health and finance) and the GP etc involved seemed to be extremely cooperative when I submitted it.

It's really because nobody actually discusses anything with us. We get the occasion 2nd hand (3 weeks after the event) information from the carehome. We don't think that's good enough and it has been reported.

For example, FIL is on a particular drug for his dementia. Apparently it's side effects can cause liver problems so although it's great and works really well for his dementia (lessens confusion and anxiety) the doctors have taken him off of it because of any potential liver problems. We are of a mind that he is a man in his late 80s and as long as he isn't in ANY pain or discomfort, he should be left to continue on the drug that has been working for him. Except we haven't been consulted and only found out about the situation a few weeks after he'd been taken off it. And that was only because we were able to visit FIL as lockdown eases