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Deputyships, LPA & being an Appointee
Updated September 2025
Understanding and registering to handle other people's financial or health related matters can be daunting. Here you'll find the basics so you'll have a better idea as to which type of authority suits your situation and how to go about applying.
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Contents
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​​If you have problems accessing or find any of the information requires updating, please contact us.
Why manage someone else's affairs?
If you are caring for someone due to their health, it may be clear that they cannot manage their own affairs, e.g. due to severe learning difficulties, or they may have a condition such as dementia which causes deterioration over time.
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It may be advisable to apply for a Lasting Power of Attorney so that someone can manager your affairs, just in case you become incapacitated due to illness or accident, as it saves a lot of stress if this is already in place.
Deputyship
A Deputyship is registered with the Court of Protection to handle matters for some over the age of 18 who does not have the ability to deal with their own affairs, e.g. due to severe learning difficulties or dementia (if an LPA has not already been set up).
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Click here for the essential information provided by gov.uk about becoming a Deputy.
Useful guide from The Challenging Behaviour Foundation
Some families only need to take out the Property and Financial affairs Deputyship. But if you are considering taking out the Personal and Welfare Deputyship as well please read the when you need to make a personal welfare application guidance.
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Costs - Deputyships are expensive and you will need to pay a fee to get started, and then a further payment each year – please see the costs here.
There is some help with the costs involved, but to claim your child will need to be on eligible benefits (for example Universal Credit or ESA). If you would like any advice about benefits, please let us know so that we can book an appointment with our benefit advisor.
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Lasting Power of Attorney
A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) is a legal document which allows a person (18 years or over) who has mental capacity, to select and appoint other people to make decisions on their behalf, at specific times, or should they ever lack the mental capacity to make decisions themselves.
The two different types of LPA cover: Property and Financial Affairs; which can be used while the donor still has mental capacity, with their consent; and Health and Welfare which can only be used if a donor lacks mental capacity to make decisions for themselves.
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LPA are applied to and registered by the Court of Protection. Once an Attorney (one or multiple) have been approved, they can manage the person's affairs on their behalf, and once in place, even if the person loses capacity, as long as all actions are carried out in their best interest. This can be for a one off transaction, e.g. to manage the sale of a house, while someone is unwell, on ongoing if they are no longer able to manage affairs for themselves.
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To manage someone's benefits, e.g. apply on their behalf etc, you will need the financial LPA (as opposed to 'health and welfare'), a Deputyship, or you can apply to be an Appointee.
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Becoming an Appointee
Becoming a Appointee allows you to manage and discuss someone else's benefits with the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP). The DWP will accept applications if the person who receives the benefit/s would struggle to manage this themselves due to mental capacity or physical capability.
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It may be worth applying even if the person you care for has dementia and sometimes seems to have understanding, as they may struggle with security questions, keeping track of payments or why calls are being made.
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We can talk to you about this when we are assisting with your form filling appointment - contact us!
Benefit application forms such as DLA, PIP and AA have a section asking if you are signing the form on someone else's behalf, and if you want to apply to become an Appointee. You do not need to apply to become an Appointee if you already hold Deputyship or LPA.
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You can find out more about becoming an Appointee on the DWP website.
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