Hi Everyone
Firstly, thank you all so much for the support everyone gives on here. I don't know what I would do without it. So thank you
I have two questions - both surround the fact that I found out recently that my sister has taken or in her words (admitted via text) that she has "borrowed" literally thousands out of my mum's bank account. Totally emptying one and greatly reducing the other - which thank God I managed to "freeze" before more damage could be done.
I am left with no access to any money for my mum. I am real financial troubles myself - not helped by paying £800 out for the Deputyship Application. I have also applied for an Interim Order to access my mum's finances to pay for groceries and bills. I sent the application last week recorded delivery. I have rung a number of times and although the £800 has been taken from my account (leaving me overdrawn due to having to also buy my mums groceries) they say the application hasn't even been logged on the system. I rang the AS helpline in tears yesterday. They told me to ring and as for the Urgent Decision Manager - but when I did they said they only dealt with welfare but would ring back today with an update - needless to say no phone call. The best guideline I got was that it would take around 5 weeks for an urgent order - by which time I seriously will be in so much debt. So does anyone have any guidelines on how long an urgent interim order should take and any advice re. any ways to speed it u?. Should I employ a solicitor (more money I don't have) to speed it up??
Secondly, social services. Three weeks ago I reported the concerns re. financial abuse to them. I have repeatedly offered to send them copies of the statements that I have showing the withdrawls and screenshots of the text messages where my sister said had borrowed the money (which is fine - she can just pay it back then). Only today did they visit my mum to ascertain that she really doesn't understand anything about her money and doesn't have mental capacity. I have tried to be patient but to say their response is slow feels like an understatement. I emailed the social worker after today and asked what next and what timescale. Her answer was she was going on annual leave next week so couldn't give me any idea re. any timescales or what they would do next. Again I offered to send them the "evidence" - but no response. I do understand that people are under huge pressure. However, I work quite closely with child safeguarding and this kind of timescale feels way too long. My question here is, is this the time to stop being so nice and friendly and start kicking up a fuss? I've have tried to be patient. There have also been concerns raised by the carers that my sister had repeatedly not returned their emergency calls, had removed me as next of kin (so I never knew things were going wrong) and of course, taken thousands. In her email reply, the social worker said that at least what's left of my mum's money is safe and she is safe in her home (which is very questionable). Do I just go with it are start complaining?
Thanks for your advice and help
Firstly, thank you all so much for the support everyone gives on here. I don't know what I would do without it. So thank you
I have two questions - both surround the fact that I found out recently that my sister has taken or in her words (admitted via text) that she has "borrowed" literally thousands out of my mum's bank account. Totally emptying one and greatly reducing the other - which thank God I managed to "freeze" before more damage could be done.
I am left with no access to any money for my mum. I am real financial troubles myself - not helped by paying £800 out for the Deputyship Application. I have also applied for an Interim Order to access my mum's finances to pay for groceries and bills. I sent the application last week recorded delivery. I have rung a number of times and although the £800 has been taken from my account (leaving me overdrawn due to having to also buy my mums groceries) they say the application hasn't even been logged on the system. I rang the AS helpline in tears yesterday. They told me to ring and as for the Urgent Decision Manager - but when I did they said they only dealt with welfare but would ring back today with an update - needless to say no phone call. The best guideline I got was that it would take around 5 weeks for an urgent order - by which time I seriously will be in so much debt. So does anyone have any guidelines on how long an urgent interim order should take and any advice re. any ways to speed it u?. Should I employ a solicitor (more money I don't have) to speed it up??
Secondly, social services. Three weeks ago I reported the concerns re. financial abuse to them. I have repeatedly offered to send them copies of the statements that I have showing the withdrawls and screenshots of the text messages where my sister said had borrowed the money (which is fine - she can just pay it back then). Only today did they visit my mum to ascertain that she really doesn't understand anything about her money and doesn't have mental capacity. I have tried to be patient but to say their response is slow feels like an understatement. I emailed the social worker after today and asked what next and what timescale. Her answer was she was going on annual leave next week so couldn't give me any idea re. any timescales or what they would do next. Again I offered to send them the "evidence" - but no response. I do understand that people are under huge pressure. However, I work quite closely with child safeguarding and this kind of timescale feels way too long. My question here is, is this the time to stop being so nice and friendly and start kicking up a fuss? I've have tried to be patient. There have also been concerns raised by the carers that my sister had repeatedly not returned their emergency calls, had removed me as next of kin (so I never knew things were going wrong) and of course, taken thousands. In her email reply, the social worker said that at least what's left of my mum's money is safe and she is safe in her home (which is very questionable). Do I just go with it are start complaining?
Thanks for your advice and help