An appointee is responsible for managing a person's benefits, and also for paying bills and managing a small and limited amount of savings in case of unforeseen circumstances. Appointeeship may be the best course of action if the person has a low level of financial assets, is in receipt of benefits and doesn't have any other sources of income.
How to become an appointee
The government's website explains more about appointeeship and about how to apply.
Applications are made to the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP), usually by telephone initially. What you need to do will depend on the type of benefit being received.
- Attendance Allowance - contact the disability benefits helpline
- Disability Living Allowance - contact the disability benefits helpline
- State Pension - contact your local pension centre
- Personal Independence Payment (PIP) - contact the PIP new claims line
- Tax credits - complete the appointeeship section on the Tax Credits form
- All other benefits - contact Jobcentre Plus
The DWP will then arrange to visit the claimant to assess if an appointee is needed, and interview you to make sure you're a suitable appointee. The interviewer will help you to fill out an appointee application form.
If your application to become an appointee is successful, DWP will send you Form BF57, which confirms you've been formally appointed to act for the claimant. You're not the appointee until you have received this form, even if you have been told that your application has been successful.