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
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
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.
Training to manage money
Ask your bank if they provide training on how to manage money. You may need to travel for this.
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 have people who can help if someone financially abuses your child. 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)
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.
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'.
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.
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.
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.
Managing benefits
Becoming an appointee would give you the right to make decisions about a person's benefits.
Last reviewed by Scope on: 24/11/2023
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