1. First steps
First, the person you’re helping needs to decide on the type of support they need – they might want to talk about options with family or get independent legal advice.
Third-party access to bank accounts
Getting help, or helping someone else
From power of attorney to Court of Protection orders, we explain the options for getting help to manage your accounts, and what to do if you’ve been appointed to help someone else.
How to set up third-party access
We’re here to give you practical guidance and support you every step of the way.
2. Set up the authority
If you’re setting up a power of attorney or Court of Protection Order for someone, you’ll first need to set this up with the Office of the Public Guardian or apply to the courts.
3. Register with us
Once your authority is in place, you’ll need to register it with us and provide us with the documents we need.
4. Managing the account
Depending on the type of authority you registered for, you might be able to manage the person’s accounts using Online Banking or Telephone Banking, or with a debit card.
Making sure the right support is in place
There may be circumstances – either now or in the future – where you’ll need a bit of help with managing your money. Planning for the future can be difficult, especially when we don’t know what’s around the corner. But making sure you have the right support in place in case you’re not able to manage your money yourself could prevent lengthy – and often difficult – situations.
Having someone help you
There are several options available, depending on the amount of help you need. Is it help with day-to-day finances, or do you need to hand over control?
In most circumstances, you’ll keep full access to your accounts. But if you’re no longer able to make decisions about your finances, you can delegate full control to someone you trust in advance.
Planning for the future can help to make sure that the people you trust can help you in an emergency.
Helping someone else
If someone you care for becomes unwell or is taken into hospital, being able to pay bills or withdraw money on their behalf can ease stress at a difficult time.
There are a number of options available, depending on the type of support you need to give them.
Independent financial and legal advice can help you, and the person you’re caring for, put the right precautions in place for the future.
Key things to consider
Hopefully, you’ll never need to ask someone to help you manage your money. But in case life takes an unexpected turn, we’re here to help you feel in control.
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There are various options available to help with money management, both now and when planning for the future. You’ll need to decide carefully on which option works best for you.
For example, a third-party authority agreement may suit you if you want someone to help you complete basic banking transactions, like accessing cash or checking your balance.
This could be a family member or a friend, but if you’d like someone to have more control over your finances if something were to happen to you, you could appoint someone with lasting power of attorney. Other options are available, too, which we explain in more detail.
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Where can I get independent advice?
The Citizens Advice website has impartial information on how to manage the affairs of someone else.
We’re not able to give you any legal or financial advice, but here are details of other organisations and groups that could help.
The Office of Public Guardian
publicguardian.gov.uk or call 0300 456 0300
Age UK
ageuk.org.uk or call free on 0800 169 65 65
Mental Health Foundation
mentalhealth.org.uk or call 020 7803 1101
MIND (National Association for Mental Health)
mind.org.uk or call the advice line on 020 8519 2122
Citizens’ Advice Bureau
citizensadvice.org.uk or call 08444 111 444
British Bankers’ Association
bba.org.uk or call 020 7216 8800
Alzheimer’s Society
alzheimers.org.uk or call 0300 222 1122
Carer’s Trust
carers.org.uk or call 0844 800 4361
Friends of the Elderly
fote.org.uk or call 020 7730 8263
The Stroke Association
stroke.org.uk or call 0303 3033 100
The different types of third-party access
Here we explain the options available to you, the circumstances for which each is suitable, and how to set them up.
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Power of attorney
Power of attorney
A power of attorney (PoA) is a legal document that gives someone the authority to make decisions about property and finances on someone else’s behalf. In some cases, what the attorney can and can’t do will depend on your ability to make decisions about your finances.
You must be mentally capable to give your authority to trusted individuals as attorneys.
There are different types of PoA, which we’ve explained in more detail. For us to accept your delegation, it needs to be a PoA that relates to property and financial affairs.
Lasting power of attorney
This type of PoA is completed through the Office of the Public Guardian. Once it’s in place, you can use it both when you’re mentally capable and incapable if
- You want someone you trust to have access to your money
- You need long-term help managing your finances
- You want to specify which accounts your attorney has access to and how they access them
- You’re moving abroad or going travelling for more than a year
- You’re going to university
- You’re going into hospital
You can add instructions and preferences to the document, including when you’d like attorneys to be able to act and how they’ll do so.
Enduring power of attorney
This type of PoA was in place before 1 October 2007 but has since been replaced by a lasting power of attorney. If you have one in place, you can still use it, in the same way as a lasting power of attorney.
If you lose your mental capacity, the enduring power of attorney document must be registered with the Office of Public Guardian
General power of attorney
This type of PoA is only valid if you’re mentally capable and
- You want someone you trust to have access to your money
- You need short-term help managing your finances or during periods of illness, or if you have recurring mental health problems
- You want to specify which accounts your attorney has access to and how they access them
- You’re going abroad for up to a year
- You’re going to university
- You’re going into hospital
Scottish power of attorney
If you live in Scotland, there’s a Scottish Office of the Public Guardian that offers
- Continuing power of attorney, which provides attorneys with the authority to deal with finances and property
- Welfare power of attorney, which provides attorneys with the power to make decisions around health or personal welfare matters – this can’t be used with a financial institution
- Combined power of attorney, which gives attorneys both continuing and welfare rights
Can I have more than one attorney?
Yes, though it’s important to consider whether you’d like them to act ‘jointly’ or ‘jointly and severally.’ This will affect how they manage your account.
Jointly – all attorneys will need to be present to carry out a transaction and they won’t be able to manage your account in Telephone Banking or Online Banking, or have a debit card for your account.
Jointly and severally – attorneys can act independently, or together. They’ll be able to manage your account in Telephone and Online Banking, and have a debit card for your account.
Prepare your documents
If you’ve been legally authorised to access someone’s account, we’ll need to see an original or certified copy of your power of attorney document. Please bring it with you to your appointment. Gov.uk has more information on how to certify documents.
Further help
Download the PoA toolkit [PDF, 3.3MB]
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Court of Protection order
Court of Protection order
The Court of Protection is the authority that deals with making decisions on financial or welfare matters for people who, due to mental incapacity, can no longer make those decisions themselves. It’s the proposed ‘deputy’ that applies to the court, rather than the person needing the help.
When could I consider a Court of Protection order?
A Court of Protection order is an option if the person needing help has lost mental capacity and they don’t have a PoA, or anyone else to manage their finances. There are several reasons people may lack mental capacity, for example
- They’ve had a serious brain injury or illness
- They have dementia
- They have severe learning disabilities
Deputies are authorised by the Court of Protection to make decisions on behalf of the person needing help.
The application can be a lengthy process for deputies trying to gain access. The courts will need to make sure they’re safeguarding those people who can no longer manage or look after their own affairs. While this is in progress, we can still pay essential bills from the person’s account, as long as those bills are in their name.
Once the deputy is appointed they can
- Manage a current account in Telephone Banking and Online Banking (as long as they’ve been appointed to act jointly and severally)
- Use a debit card for the account
- Sign cheques (the signature should be followed by ‘PoA’)
- Have statements sent to their address
- Update address details
- Add, remove and cancel standing orders and Direct Debits
- Open and close accounts
Prepare your documents
If you’ve been legally authorised to access someone’s account, we’ll need to see the original or a certified copy of the Court of Protection Order. Please bring it with you to your appointment.
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Appointeeship
Appointeeship
This allows a delegated person to manage benefits from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) on behalf of someone else. You can apply for an appointeeship though the DWP.
You can apply for the right to deal just with the benefits of someone over the age of 16 who’s unable to manage their own affairs because they’re mentally incapable or severely disabled.
When could I consider an appointeeship?
Unlike a power of attorney or Court of Protection order, an appointeeship only allows you to manage the benefits and not any other form of income or savings the person may have.
Appointees manage benefit claims and benefit money on behalf of the person who’s mentally unable to do so. The appointee is also responsible for reporting any changes in the person’s circumstances.
If the person has the mental capacity to manage their own benefits but would like some support from a trusted individual, they would need to grant power of attorney instead.
Once appointed, the appointee can
- Manage the account the benefits are paid into
- Pay bills, including signing cheques
- Use a debit card
- Have statements sent to their address
- Update address details
- Add, remove and cancel standing orders and Direct Debits
- An appointee can’t have access to Telephone Banking or Online Banking.
Prepare your documents
If the DWP agrees with the application, they’ll send you Form BF57 to confirm you’ve been formally appointed to act for the claimant – you’re not the appointee until this happens. You’ll need to bring this form with you to your appointment.
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Guardianship (Missing Persons) Order
Guardianship (Missing Persons) Order
The Guardianship (Missing Persons) Act 2017 allows the court to appoint a trusted person to be the guardian of a missing person’s property and financial affairs. The court does this by making a Guardianship (Missing Persons) Order (GMPO).
How do I apply for a GMPO?
You’ll need to apply to the Chancery Division or the Family Division of the High Court
- To submit a new GMPO application
- To change or revoke an existing GMPO
- For any other applications relating to GMPOs
You can learn more about each of these divisions and to see which one suits your particular circumstances at the links below:
What can a guardian do?
Subject to terms listed in the order, once appointed, a guardian can manage the missing person’s property and financial affairs, which includes
- Managing a current account in Telephone Banking and Online Banking (only if they’ve been appointed to act solely)
- Using a debit card for the account (only if they’ve been appointed to act solely)
- Signing cheques
- Having statements sent to their address
- Updating correspondence address details
- Adding, removing and cancelling standing orders and Direct Debits
- Opening and closing accounts
If guardians are appointed to act jointly, they must make decisions together unanimously.
Prepare your documents
If you’ve been legally authorised to access someone’s account, we’ll need to see the following documents.
- The original, or a certified copy of, the Guardianship (Missing Persons) Order
- Your passport, UK driving licence or EU national ID card
- A utility bill (not a mobile phone bill) or bank/building society statement that shows your current address. This bill must be no more than three months old and an original document, not a photocopy
Please bring these with you to your appointment.
How to register with us
Visit one of our branches
Your appointment will last between 30 minutes and an hour. Find your nearest branch.
During the coronavirus situation, we’re doing all we can to make sure our branches run smoothly while supporting the wellbeing of our colleagues and customers, so it might take a bit longer than usual to get an appointment.
If you can’t visit a branch
If you can’t visit a branch because of lockdown restrictions, please call 0345 075 7475** (option 1) to register a new authority. If you don’t already bank with us, you’ll need ID documents such as a passport or photocard driving licence to hand. You’ll also need to have access to a smartphone, tablet or computer, as we’ll ask you to upload copies of your documents during the call.
So you know, we can’t complete transactions, book branch appointments or answer questions on this number. If you have a question, take a look at our banking from home guide or call 0345 734 5345* (+44 24 7684 2100* if you’re abroad).
What to bring to your appointment
Here’s what you’ll need to bring along
the person has specified any preferences and instructions, we’ll need to ask you for the full paper legal document
What happens next
Once we receive everything we need, we’ll aim to set up your access within ten working days. If we need anything else from you, we’ll get in touch by email or phone.
When it’s set up, we’ll send you a letter to confirm that you have access, along with anything else you asked for, such as Online and Telephone Banking details, or debit cards.
Managing someone’s accounts
The type of authority you have will affect how you can manage the person’s accounts once you’re registered with us. Depending on whether you have power of attorney, a Court of Protection order or third-party authority, you’ll have access to these features
| Feature | If you’re appointed to act ‘jointly and severally’ | If you’re appointed to act ‘jointly’ |
|---|---|---|
| Debit card | ||
| Online Banking | ||
| Telephone Banking | ||
| Barclays app | ||
| Manned counter in branch | All attorneys must be together | |
| Self-service machines in branch | ||
Cheque book (only available if the person has lost mental capacity) |
All attorneys must sign together |
Using Telephone Banking
If you have a question or need to make a transfer but can’t visit a branch, call our Telephone Banking team on 0345 734 5345* (+44 24 7684 2100* if you’re abroad). You’ll need your Telephone Banking membership number and passcode when you call – we’ll have sent you this in a letter when you registered with us.
Logging in to Online Banking
Our handy Banking from home guide explains how to make transfers and manage payments.
If you already bank with us
- Log in using the membership details for your own account
- To switch between your accounts and the person’s accounts you’re managing, select ‘Switch customer’ in the help bar or go to ‘Profile’ and select the person’s name at the bottom of the dropdown box
If you’re new to Barclays and logging in for the first time
- If you’re eligible and chose to manage your accounts with Online Banking when you registered with us, we’ll have sent you a membership number and passcode
- Go to our log in page, and enter your surname and 12-digit membership number
- Enter your 5-digit passcode and create a memorable word that contains both letters and a number, then select ‘Log in’
- You’ll then see the name of the person you’re linked to. Select the person whose account you want to manage, then ‘Manage’
Ways to contact us
Choose the best option to suit your needs.
Online
If you want to discuss your options before coming to see us, chat with us now. We’re open 24/7, including holidays.
Phone
If you’re an attorney or deputy and need to make a transaction on someone else’s behalf, call us1 on 0345 734 5345*, or +44 24 7684 2100* if you’re abroad.
If you want to register your new third-party authority, appointeeship, power of attorney, Court of Protection, or GMPO, call us2 on 0345 075 7475 (option 1)**.
Branch
Some of our branches have changed their regular opening hours or have temporarily closed because of the pandemic. We're updating our branch finder regularly.
Post
If you’d prefer to write to us, you can send a letter to
Barclays Delegated Authority Team
Barclays Service Centre,
Leicester,
LE87 2BB
* Lines are open 24/7 – except during the Christmas period, when they may be closed at off-peak times.
** Lines are open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm and Saturdays, 9am to 2pm.
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