Managing money for someone else

This information applies to England and Wales.

Banks should make adjustments to help meet a disabled person’s needs. These could include:

  • communicating in an accessible way
  • having a quiet meeting space
  • providing bank accounts without an overdraft
  • offering appointments to avoid queues

Accessible bank accounts and services

Talking to the bank

Talking to someone at your bank is usually the best way to help them to understand what you need. For example, how they communicate with you or why they need to provide adjustments such as quiet meeting spaces.

This could be an appointment in a branch, talking on the phone or text chat online. Explain what you would like to talk about.

If your bank cannot help

Ask if there's anyone else you can speak to. If that does not work, making a formal complaint is often the fastest and easiest way to help to get the support you need. Say:

  • what you need and why
  • how the bank can support the disabled person to manage their money

Asking for reasonable adjustments

The right to make decisions for someone else

How you can do this will depend on if the disabled person can make decisions for themselves. The law calls this 'mental capacity'.

Mental capacity

Power of attorney (POA)

A power of attorney is only useful if someone is over 18 and has mental capacity. 

POA cannot give you the right to make decisions for a disabled person if they do not have mental capacity now. 

The person must agree and sign the POA form. This could give you the right to make decisions in the future if the person's condition changes and they then do not have mental capacity.

If someone does not have mental capacity, the Court of Protection could give you this right.

Lasting powers of attorney

The Court of Protection could make you a Deputy

You could get the legal right to make decisions for someone if they cannot make their own decisions.

Become a deputy

Apply to the Court of Protection (GOV.UK)

The Court will decide if the person has mental capacity. If the person does not, the court will decide if you should have the right to manage the person's finances.

If the disabled person is under 18

The bank should let you monitor the disabled person's account if they can verify your identity. The account should have no overdraft or fees.

Managing your own money (under 18)

Training to manage money

Ask your bank if they provide training on how to manage money. You may need to travel for this.

Learn about managing money

Accounts with no overdraft or fees

The bank should be able to offer a limited kind of account that could help the disabled person take on more responsibility in a safer way.

These accounts normally have no fees or overdraft.

Financial abuse

Financial abuse includes:

  • stealing by a partner, friend or carer
  • scams

The bank should help if you suspect financial abuse. Ask your bank how it manages customer protection.

Financial abuse is a crime. Report it to the police.

Find your local Trading Standards office (GOV.UK)

Protecting against financial abuse (MoneyHelper)

How to spot an email scam (Which)

Monitoring an account (third party mandate)

A third party mandate lets you monitor or manage someone else's bank account. It is useful when the disabled person is both:

  • over 18
  • can make decisions but needs support

All banks should offer this. But you need permission from the disabled person to get a third party mandate.

You cannot transfer a third party mandate to another account or bank.

A third party mandate does not give you the legal right to make decisions about the other person's finances.

Managing benefits

Becoming an appointee would give you the right to make decisions about a person's benefits.

Become an appointee to manage someone’s benefits

Last reviewed by Scope on: 28/11/2024

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