Any experience with bank accounts for learning disabled children?

[meltedmarsbars]

I've had a Kaftka-esque day with NS&I trying to close an account that apparently dd2 shouldn't even have because she has learning disabilities - she can't sign her name, doesn't understand money, so I have to get a Doc letter to state her learning disabilities?

I want to open a higher-interest account with another bank but am worried I'm going to get more brick walls!

Any experiences to help me out?

Watching with interest. DS really ought to have a savings account but I have no idea how he can operate one.

Sorry meltedmarsbars, in case you thought someone had an answer!

What age is she?

She's 8, but the child has to sign the forms to withdraw money after the age of 7 - it was opened when she was 2 and we didn't realise quite how bad she'd be!

I've only ever paid money in - excess birthday money, etc.

Someone told me I need some sort of court document to act on her behalf - but its not power of attorney because she cannot knowingly sign that over to anyone, because of her difficulties!

Not sure where to go next...

Mine all had trust accounts they only withdraw if I signed it over to them.I'm now an appointee for DS but he's 16.
DD2 still has one in trust and shes 15 she doesn't have access to it.
I changed DS's over to my name once he was 16 by closing his and opening a savings account in my name.

dd and ds both had a savings account(nat wst) and I was the co signer as it had to have an adult, I think that goes up to 16.

I was hoping to keep it in her name so Christmas cheques etc, could go straight in, like my other dc's and then it can be used when she's an adult for whatever she might need.

Am I being over-optimistic?

They had children's accounts with HBOS which stayed in there name even though it was trust account, it would of reverted to just their name only once 16 but DS's could of been a counter signed account he couldn't write his name until about 3 years ago.

i have an account for ds which is called... (my name) in trust for (ds name) and cheques with his name can be paid in and i can withdraw

If you open an account with another bank I would put this in your name on the first line and on the second line re child's name.

BTW people cannot set up an account held in trust i.e Trustee for child x, Mr/Mrs Y unless there is an actual trust deed in existance.

Melted - if you keep the account in solely the child's name she is the sole owner of it and thus responsible for it.

Meerkat, does the bank provide this deed of trust?

No,a Solicitor would have to set up an actual trust deed.

This is an area you have ot be very careful about - a charity I am involved with had a solicitor talk to us about this. I'll see if I can dig out the bits of paper, but you can't really jsut open a normal account for a learning disabled child without storing up problems for later on, especially after 16. Look at Mencap for more info on this but the trust set up or having the account in your name or being an appointee is the way to go.

I hade the same conversation when i wanted to put ds2's savings in with his child trust fund, effectively closing one of the accounts.
I expalined that he would not be able to come in and sign his name and even though he can write his own first name he wouldn't be able to cope with going in to the bank etc.

Their answer, get him to come in & sign a power of attorny, don't think they understood... so i've still done nothing about it.

When I worked in the branch network of one of the biggest banks, we used to have to have documents from the Court of Protection when a customer was not able to deal with their own financial affairs and also not able to provide POA. There may be something on the site that I have linked to that helps with how to get this document.