What is an appointee?

Some benefit claimants are unable to manage their benefit affairs, usually because of mental incapacity or severe physical disability.

You can apply to become an appointee to manage benefit income on behalf of a service user if you are a suitable person (such as a relative, friend or solicitor).

Where no one else is able or suitable to do so, we (Wrexham Council) can apply to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to be appointed to act on behalf of the benefit claimant in order to deal with their benefits.

What is a deputy?

A service user may have an ongoing need for decisions to be made on their behalf as they lack the capacity to make such decisions on their own. 

A deputy can make decisions that cover all financial assets and savings. The role typically involves managing bank accounts, pensions and other financial assets on behalf of people. Deputies can only make decisions that they are authorised by the Court of Protection to make.

You can apply to become a deputy to make decisions on behalf of a service user if you are a suitable person (such as a relative, friend or solicitor).

In circumstances where there is no-one else who is able or suitable to do so, we (Wrexham Council) can apply to the Court of Protection to be appointed as a deputy to manage the person’s financial affairs.

What is lasting power of attorney? 

A lasting power of attorney (LPA) is a legal document that appoints one or more people to help make decisions or to make decisions on a person’s behalf.

There are 2 types of LPA:

Health and welfare 

To give an attorney the power to make decisions about things like:

• daily routine, for example washing, dressing, eating
• medical care
• moving into a care home
• life-sustaining treatment

Property and financial affairs

To give an attorney the power to make decisions about money and property for you, for example:

• managing a bank or building society account
• paying bills
• collecting benefits or a pension