My mother needs someone to look after her money for her because she cannot get to the bank or do online banking so I think an LPA would be appropriate but an adviser from a national age-related charity has said that I should not get one. She thinks that the LA will have to take responsibility if there is no LPA. I don't understand this. Has anyone else had similar advice? She is in a care home with fees paid by the LA, less her contribution from pensions.
Adviser says do not get LPA
- Thread starter percot
- Start date
Adviser? Seriously misguided in my view. Now if your mother only has state pensions and benefits and you don't need to access any savings accounts, an appointeeship with the pension service might do the job, but if your mother still has capacity to grant an LPA then I would do it. I'd much rather control a family members assets than allow the LA to do it. However, is it possibly the the adviser meant deputyship?
There are 2 types of LPA, health & welfare or property & financial, certainly I think you should get the former so you can be involved in all the health matters, the second one depends. To be honest if there is no cash then leave it for the SS to sort out on the other hand if she's loaded don't, get independent advice.
I would say get the LPA for her health issues then you have to be (in theory) kept informed of any decisions being made. The financial side may be best left to the SS if your mother's money is below the £23k level and she has no assets or is likely to be in that position very soon. If the situation is she's not well off and has no big assets then let them have the grief of dealing with it; banks, building societies all with £50 in the account. That's what I'd do.
K
I would say get the LPA for her health issues then you have to be (in theory) kept informed of any decisions being made. The financial side may be best left to the SS if your mother's money is below the £23k level and she has no assets or is likely to be in that position very soon. If the situation is she's not well off and has no big assets then let them have the grief of dealing with it; banks, building societies all with £50 in the account. That's what I'd do.
K
I would advise getting both LPA's. I certainly wouldn't have wanted the LA or any one else for that matter, dealing with my mums finances.
Finance and property LPA , means you can deal with things like banks, utility company's , insurances, firms or private pension schemes on your mothers behalf and pay bills etc.
For me the most important things with the health and welfare LPA is it give you the right for for example Drs to discuss the persons condition and treatment with you and they can't easily hide behind the rules of confidentiality ,though they may try, then you can wave the registered forms under their nose
Bear in mind though this LPA can only be used when the person has lost capacity or is otherwise unable to communicate their wishes .
Of course if their are no savings at all and the only income is the state pension and benefits then being made an appointee by the DWP , dept of work and pensions should suffice
If you wish you can do the forms yourself , the Alzheimer's society can help.
If you decide to use a solicitor , do shop around as their prices do vary.
TBH I am rather concerned that adviser gave you that advise , it sure sounds wrong to me .
Finance and property LPA , means you can deal with things like banks, utility company's , insurances, firms or private pension schemes on your mothers behalf and pay bills etc.
For me the most important things with the health and welfare LPA is it give you the right for for example Drs to discuss the persons condition and treatment with you and they can't easily hide behind the rules of confidentiality ,though they may try, then you can wave the registered forms under their nose
Bear in mind though this LPA can only be used when the person has lost capacity or is otherwise unable to communicate their wishes .
Of course if their are no savings at all and the only income is the state pension and benefits then being made an appointee by the DWP , dept of work and pensions should suffice
If you wish you can do the forms yourself , the Alzheimer's society can help.
If you decide to use a solicitor , do shop around as their prices do vary.
TBH I am rather concerned that adviser gave you that advise , it sure sounds wrong to me .
Last edited:
My point entirely, it depends on the financial status of the person involved and likewise:
"For me the most important things with the health and welfare LPA is it give you the right for example Drs to discuss the persons condition and treatment with you and they can't easily hide behind the rules of confidentiality"
Again likewise you need to have an LPA for health & welfare to be involved in her care.
But I don't agree with shouted advise that getting "BOTH LPA's" it depends on the circumstances, health LPA is a given, financial much less so specially when it's shouted (although qualified later) both LPA's might not be the best option.
K
I think "shouted" is rather strong. I know online, caps are considered to be shouting, but I think a lot of people use them as they are in the offline world: as emphasis.
When I read the advice given it left me feeling quite shivery. If that is a word. The thought of the LA dealing with Mum's day to day finances is to put it midly worrying. It has its risks if a family member has an LPA in some circumstances but 99% of us are honest Joes and have only our family members interests at heart.
I have a EPA for my Mum , taken out before the new versions were on the scene. I look at my Mum's bank account on line every morning to make sure everything is OK. Just off to the bank at the moment to pay in her Premium Bond wins (bless her she is the £25 queen in my eyes) yes wins she had 3 this month. Now who at the LA is going to be dealing with those kind of things.
What if Mum wants to give Christmas presents or birthday presents to Grandchildren or Great Grand Childen. Can you see someone in the LA doing that. Mum often needs underwear etc (she is in residential care) I buy it and take the money from her account at the bank, referencing each item.
Please give it a lot of thought and yes I would say do please arrange for Mum to have a LPA.
It is a the little things that matter.
I have a EPA for my Mum , taken out before the new versions were on the scene. I look at my Mum's bank account on line every morning to make sure everything is OK. Just off to the bank at the moment to pay in her Premium Bond wins (bless her she is the £25 queen in my eyes) yes wins she had 3 this month. Now who at the LA is going to be dealing with those kind of things.
What if Mum wants to give Christmas presents or birthday presents to Grandchildren or Great Grand Childen. Can you see someone in the LA doing that. Mum often needs underwear etc (she is in residential care) I buy it and take the money from her account at the bank, referencing each item.
Please give it a lot of thought and yes I would say do please arrange for Mum to have a LPA.
It is a the little things that matter.
Last edited:
LPA articles from SAGA
Sorry, can't post links yet but if you search the SAGA site for 'LPA articles' you can find lots of useful information.
We have both for MIL - instigated by her after a horror story in 2010 about how the OPG (office of the public guardian) can, and will, decide what the family of a person who lacks capacity can spend their money on. Sounds a great safeguard but in practice there have been examples of OPG refusing to authorise money being spent on essential adaptations to homes. With a LPA in place the Attorneys selected by the donor can decide.
Sorry, can't post links yet but if you search the SAGA site for 'LPA articles' you can find lots of useful information.
We have both for MIL - instigated by her after a horror story in 2010 about how the OPG (office of the public guardian) can, and will, decide what the family of a person who lacks capacity can spend their money on. Sounds a great safeguard but in practice there have been examples of OPG refusing to authorise money being spent on essential adaptations to homes. With a LPA in place the Attorneys selected by the donor can decide.
