We can act as deputy or appointee for someone who lacks mental capacity. This means we will manage their financial affairs and benefits because they can’t make their own decision and have no-one else to do it for them.
Our Essex Deputyship Team will carry out this role.
The service we provide depends on the person's financial circumstances.
Deputyship
The Court of Protection can appoint us to act as deputy for someone who lacks mental capacity.
Make a referral
You can refer someone who is receiving social care support from us and they:
- lack or may lack the mental capacity to make financial decisions on their own
- don’t have an existing deputy or other representatives
- don't have family or friends that are willing, able or suitable to act as their deputy
- have no family or friends
Anyone can make a referral.
Our role as deputy
Our Essex Deputyship Team will manage the person’s property and financial affairs. They will:
- manage routine spending such as paying bills, car tax and home insurance
- make sure they have access to money to meet their daily needs
- buy or sell property
- make investments
- pay care bills
- change accommodation to meet their needs
- apply for state benefits
Our role as deputy ends when the person dies or regains capacity.
Charges
This is not a free service. We apply charges set by the Court of Protection including:
- £745 one-off set up fee
- £775 annual management fee for the first year, or 3.5% of your net assets if they're less than £16,000
- £650 annual management for subsequent years, or 3.5% of your net assets if they're less than £16,000
- any other costs applied by the Court of Protection
Appointeeship
The Department for Work and Pensions will appoint us to act as someone's appointee if the person's only income is social security benefits and they have no property or savings.
Our Essex Deputy Team will manage the person’s benefits for them.
The appointeeship service is not free. You can find the fees on our council care charges page.
Related content
See looking after someone's affairs for more on getting power of attorney and looking after someone who lacks mental capacity.
GOV.UK has guidance on becoming a deputy.