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Query re whether to be an appointee for my son

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4 days 8 hours ago #307915 by Pat
Hi - I am unsure whether to be an appointee for my son for his benefits or not. He receives UC and we have just applied for PIP for him. He needs help with post and emails and completing and submitting forms. He also needs support in any assessments. He would be unable to manage his benefits on his own. However he has his own bank account and can access this and manage it on a day to day basis by himself. He does not overspend. I do have LPA for him. Are we OK to continue as we are i.e. helping him on an informal basis with him as the claimant? If it is better to become an appointee then does his benefit have to come into a bank account I set up for him or can it continue to be paid into his bank account? Thinking of the future and the sustainability of it all too. I imagine his sister will have to support him with his benefits in the future. Thanks.

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2 days 11 hours ago #307946 by David
Hi Pat

The good news is that the DWP should treat you as an Appointee because you have LPA.

The bad news is that I predict some trouble ahead as there are so many badly trained staff who don't know what a LPA is and the experienced staff are doing Managed Migration.

I would send the UC case manager a Journal Message quoting the following official guidance--

Manage someone's claim for them
You can manage someone’s claim for them if you have ‘written authority’. This includes:
having a lasting power of attorney (LPA) or an enduring power of attorney (EPA) for the person claiming benefits
being a deputy for the person claiming benefits
being an appointee for the person claiming benefits
You can help them with any type of benefit claim. You’ll be able to do things like appealing a decision on their behalf or ending their claim.

www.gov.uk/help-someone-with-benefit-cla...eones-claim-for-them

Let me know how you get on.
David

Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems

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