Appointeeship
What is an Appointee?
* Please note, the council does not provide this service*
An appointee is an organisation or person who has been appointed by the DWP to receive welfare benefits on behalf of someone who is unable to manage their financial affairs.
An appointee is fully responsible for acting on behalf of the person for whom they are appointed in all dealings with DWP. This includes:
- Claiming benefits
- Identifying which benefits to claim and getting benefits advice
- Completing and signing claim forms and providing additional evidence if required
- Making renewal claims when they are due
- Collecting benefits and managing the money in the person's best interests
- Reporting changes in the person's circumstances such as change of address, changes in money situation, changes in who lives in the household or if the person goes into hospital.
An appointee does not have authority to any more than this. They cannot manage or make decisions with regards to savings, occupational pensions, debt, any other income, tenancies or property. (This list is not exhaustive). For anything other than receiving benefits and paying bills, deputyship is required. (See the What is a Deputy for Property and Finances/Affairs)
You an find out more in how to become an appointee by using this link Become an appointee for someone claiming benefits - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
What to do if think someone needs an appointee
If there is an existing appointee in place, and they cannot continue for any reason, they must source a replacement appointee, and this cannot be the council.
If the person does not already have an appointee and you have identified that they need one, a referral should be made to one of the organisations shown below. Anyone can do this, family, friends or Social Worker.
Examples of organisations that offer an appointee ship service are Money Carers or Penderel's. Links to their websites are below
Money Management Services from Money Carer
penderelstrust.org.uk/appointeeship.php
Many other organisations can also be found by searching on the internet.
