Best bank account for SEN…who you know is incapable of managing money.

[WhompingWillows]

I was a bit taken aback this weekend as NS&I have sent my DD1(just 16) cheques for £250 for her premium bonds winnings. I have made myself an appointee for DLA/PIP reasons. DD1 has no intellectual disabilities but she is registered blind and she is diagnosed with neonatal abstinence syndrome (she is adopted and was born addicted to heroin and methadone), likely FAS/D, autism and ADHD. The biggest issue as far as money is concerned is that she has binge eating disorder and she literally spends every penny she can get her hands on on sweets, biscuits and junk food crap. The £250 premium bonds winnings would be gone in a week. I know people may voice opinions about letting her make her own mistakes, but she is teetering on the edge of obesity, her teeth are wrecked (not helped by the fact that she doesn’t brush them), her acne is awful. And I simply cannot afford to have her piss £250 up the wall when we are living hand to mouth.

Does anyone here have any good advice?

The title should read SEN teen…

The only bank I could find where I could open an account with myself as appointee was Lloyds. It had to be done in branch and even then the first time the process was done incorrectly. This was about 7 years ago so others may be better now.

It is a basic current account which cannot be managed online and has a cash point card rather than debit card. The account names read Mrs XXXX appointee for Ms XXXX. I needed both our passports and the letter stating I am her appointee.

@vjg13 thanks for the information. The idea of a cash point card fills me with horror! DD1 would have the whole lot out and spent at the local sweet shop within minutes!

Being appointee is only sufficient for benefits. It won’t allow you to manage premium bonds. If DD doesn’t have capacity you would need deputyship for other monies. If she has capacity then it is legally DD’s money and you can’t stop her accessing it. Unfortunately, with disabled DC, this is the risk of saving in DC’s name.

As well as Lloyds, HSBC have an appointee account. Others e.g. Barclays enable 3rd party appointeeship access to an existing account.

I don't know much about being appointee but just wondering if you could arrange for her winnings to be reinvested? I do this with mine for probably the same reason, I'd just spend it otherwise.

@CadyEastman thanks, yes, her winnings have historically been reinvested and I have been the registered holder but now DD has turned 16, it seems that the position has changed. I’m surprised that NS&I have done this without any consultation. But I guess that most parents don’t have 16-year-olds who have the impulse control of a toddler and who are not literally obsessed with consuming their body weight in sugar daily!

thanks, yes, her winnings have historically been reinvested and I have been the registered holder but now DD has turned 16, it seems that the position has changed. I’m surprised that NS&I have done this without any consultation. But I guess that most parents don’t have 16-year-olds who have the impulse control of a toddler and who are not literally obsessed with consuming their body weight in sugar daily

I doubt many 16 yo would handle a sudden cheque for £250 wisely, even without all of the conditions that your DD has