Need to manage someone's benefits?

There two main ways to manage benefits for another person

If a person is unable to manage their own benefits claim, it's possible for another trusted adult or representative to take over and look after the process for the 'claimant' (the official term you'll see used for someone who is claiming a benefit).

There are two main ways to do this, and the right option will depend on how much help the claimant needs...

• If they ONLY need benefits-related help – arranging an 'appointee' to handle it on the claimant's behalf might be the most suitable option. An appointee will only be able to manage benefits; they won't be able to help in other areas, such as bank accounts and everyday money management, or making decisions related to medical treatment.
  
  If it sounds like the claimant just needs help with their benefits, below we'll explain your rights and responsibilities as an appointee and how to apply so that you can make an informed decision about whether it's the right option.
  

• If they need MORE SUBSTANTIAL all-round help – for example, with personal banking, paying bills, and/or making medical and care decisions – then you might be better off with Power of Attorney in place.
  
  Ideally, the claimant will have set up Power of Attorney in advance, so that when they no longer have capacity, the nominated attorney(s) will automatically be able to look after any benefits claims (as well as other aspects of everyday life that are specified).
  
  If there's no Power of Attorney in place, you'll need to apply to the Court of Protection for a 'deputy' to be appointed. If it sounds like the claimant needs help beyond just managing benefits, jump to the Power of Attorney overview.
  

What an appointee can do

An ‘appointee’ is someone who looks after a benefits claim on behalf of someone who isn’t able to manage it themselves because of a health condition or vulnerability.

It’s only possible to ‘appoint’ someone to look after a benefits claim if the claimant does not have the capacity to handle the claim themselves.

In practice, this means:

• Any benefits are paid into the appointee’s bank account

• The appointee has to decide how to spend the benefits payments in the claimant's best interests

• The appointee has to handle any admin related to the benefits claim, for example, reporting any changes in circumstance, making sure the claimant's online journal is up to date (for Universal Credit), and replying to any correspondence, as well as maintaining accurate records

• An appointee could be liable financially if something is not done properly, for example, if there's a change of circumstance that isn't reported and it leads to an overpayment that must be repaid.

An appointee is often a family member or a close friend, but it can also be a local authority, charity or care home. The main restrictions are that only one person or organisation can act on behalf of someone, and the appointee must be 18 years or older.

An appointee doesn’t have any say over healthcare or any non-benefit-related financial matters – so if you’re an appointee you won’t be able to help with any bank account issues, or other big financial decisions like selling a house or managing mortgage payments. If the claimant needs help with other things, go to our section on help beyond benefits.

How to apply to become an appointee

There are two steps to becoming an appointee. First you'll need to contact the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). Then it will arrange to visit you and the person you wish to represent to check whether an appointee arrangement is a suitable option.

1) Contact the right department

The first step to becoming an appointee is to contact the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) department that handles the person's benefits claim:

• Attendance Allowance – contact the Attendance Allowance helpline at the Disability Service Centre

• Disability Living Allowance – contact the Disability Living Allowance helpline at the Disability Service Centre

• State Pension – contact the Pension Service

• Personal Independence Payment (PIP) – contact the PIP enquiry line

• All other benefits, including Universal Credit – contact Jobcentre Plus

Once you know which department to contact, call and let it know that you'd like to apply to be an appointee. You will be asked to provide information about the person you'd like to represent.

2) Meet with DWP

Once you’ve contacted the correct department, the DWP will arrange a visit to assess whether an appointee is needed. This meeting is just an informal chat. The DWP want to make sure both you and the claimant understand what an appointee is, and see whether you're a good fit.

During the interview you’ll be asked to fill out an appointee application form (also known as BF56), which the DWP will review.

If you’re accepted you’ll be sent a form (called BF57) which confirms that you’ve been formally ‘appointed’. Once you’ve received this form you’ll be able to start managing the claimant’s benefits.

Once you've been accepted, DWP will monitor you and the claimant

Once your appointeeship is confirmed, DWP will monitor the situation to make sure it continues to work for both you and the claimant.

As part of these checks DWP may ask to see your bank statements to demonstrate that you're managing the benefits payments you're receiving in the claimant's best interest.

For this reason, many appointees open a separate bank account which is only used for managing the benefits claim. This makes it easier to see whose money is whose, and to demonstrate to DWP what the money was used for.

If you need help beyond benefits

While taking on the role of appointee can be very useful in some situations, in other circumstances you might need to provide more support.

Power of Attorney allows you to manage someone's affairs when they are no longer able to. There are two types of Power of Attorney: one for property and financial affairs; and one for personal welfare.

If Power of Attorney is already in place

If the claimant has already set up a Power of Attorney for property and financial affairs while they had capacity, then the nominated attorney(s) can take over the management of their finances (including any benefits claims) when the individual no longer has capacity to do it themselves.

You can name more than one attorney, and decide whether they'll need to act jointly (meaning they must make decisions together) or 'jointly and severally' (meaning they can make decisions together or separately). Go to our full guide on Power of Attorney to find out how it works.

If there's NO Power of Attorney

If the person you need to support doesn't have the capacity to make financial decisions for themselves, and hasn't set up a Power of Attorney in advance, you'll need to apply to the Court of Protection.

The court can appoint a 'deputy' to make choices about the person's finances (usually a family member or close friend). There's a fee for registering, and you are likely to have to pay legal fees too. We cover the process and costs involved in more detail in our Power of Attorney guide.

The Scottish system works slightly differently. You need to apply for 'guardianship' at the local Sheriff Court – full details at the Office of the Public Guardian (Scotland). In Northern Ireland, 'controllers' are appointed by the Office of Care and Protection.

If you also provide care, you may be eligible for Carer's Allowance

If you're aged 16 or over, earn less than £196 a week (after tax), and provide over 35 hours of weekly care for someone who is claiming certain benefits, you could be due Carer's Allowance, worth £83.30 a week.

We cover who's eligible and how to apply in Carer's Allowance.

Appointee FAQs