Getting help, or helping someone else
From power of attorney to Court of Protection orders, we explain the options for getting help managing your accounts, and what to do if you’ve been appointed to help someone else.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
Here we explain the options available to you, the circumstances for which each is suitable, and how to set them up.
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.
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 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.
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
This type of PoA is only valid if you’re mentally capable and
If you live in Scotland, there’s a Scottish Office of the Public Guardian that offers
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.
If you’ve been legally authorised to access someone’s account, we’ll need to see an original copy of your power of attorney document that’s certified either by a solicitor, or by the person delegating authority to you.
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.
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
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.
If you’ve been legally authorised to access someone’s account, we’ll need to see your original Court of Protection order, certified by a solicitor. Please bring it with you to your appointment.
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.
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.
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.
Before we can allow someone to access your account (or for you to access someone’s account), you’ll need to make an appointment to see us at your local branch.
If you’re using a third-party authority, your nominee will need to come with you.
For PoA, only the appointed attorney needs to attend.
Your appointment will last between 30 minutes and an hour.
Everyone attending will need to bring acceptable identification.
If you have a Barclays debit card, you’ll need to bring it with you and know your PIN.
If you don’t bank with us, you’ll need to bring one of the acceptable forms of ID and proof of address listed on our identifications page.
Check the relevant section for any other documents you’ll need to bring with you.
If you just want to discuss your options before coming to see us, chat with us now. We’re open 24/7, including holidays.
Get help with your banking when it's convenient for you. We’ll aim to reply securely within 48 hours.
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