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Appointeeships
What is an Appointee and what do they do?
- An Appointee is authorised by the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) upon successful application, to manage a person’s benefits on their behalf.
- They authorise paying bills and/or dispersing funds using benefits received by Pembrokeshire County Council (PCC) on behalf of the service user.
- They will notify the Department of Work and Pensions of any changes that are important.
- They will monitor reviews, benefits received, money spent and Appointeeship fund balance.
Type of Appointeeships
Pembrokeshire County Council offer two types of Appointeeships to eligible service user:
- Care Home Appointeeship is for service users in a permanent care home placement.
- Community Appointeeship is for service users living in the community.
Eligibility for an Appointee
Someone can get a corporate Appointee if:
- They are a service user of PCC Social Services or Health with an existing needs assessment, Mental Capacity Act Assessment and/or a care and support plan and an allocated PCC worker.
- There is no other suitable person such as relative or close friend who can manage the person’s benefits.
- They have no more than £3,000 in their bank account(s) or sufficient funds to cover the cost of the service and must have someone to help manage the accounts, unless an application for a Deputyship is also being made.
- They do not already have an Appointee, Deputy or person with Power of Attorney, unless safeguarding concerns are present.
- Where appropriate, a signed agreement to relinquish an existing Appointeeship is obtained.
How will benefits be be managed by an Appointee?
- Benefits received will be allocated to a dedicated service user ledger account.
- Service users will receive spending money which will either be paid to their provider, credited to a specified bank account or pre-paid card.
- Cash payments will only be provided where no other option is available.
- Community Appointeeship service users will be assessed to see if they require a pre-payment card. The Deputy Appointee Team will credit the card as per arrangements decided on by service user in conjunction with a support worker and/or social worker.
Motability
The Appointee will be responsible for any vehicle issued via the Motability Scheme as this is linked to Mobility component of specific benefits. However, the appropriateness of continued access to or need for a Motability vehicle will need to be determined by the Adult Care Management Team as a best interest decision and reviewed annually.
Service Charges for an Appointeeship
An administration fee will be charged in accordance with the current Social Services Charging Policy.
Contact details
Pembrokeshire County Council Contact Centre - 01437 764551
Deputyship and Appointeeship Team - 01437 775618
ID: 11328, revised 15/02/2024
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