Part of the Preparing to Support Programme
As part of Dementia Action Week, we thought it was a good opportunity to dive further into resources available to families, in supporting their loved one with dementia.
This week's focus is on understanding and managing the financial and legal aspects of your loved one's life. It's essential to have a clear picture of their benefits, banking details, insurance policies, and legal authorisations, so we've put together a list of highlights to think about:
Benefits:
- Document all benefits received, such as Disability Living Allowance (DLA), Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Employment Support Allowance (ESA), and others.
- Note down details like the amount, payment schedule, account details, and National Insurance number.
- Record renewal or review dates and keep copies of previous applications.
Appointee vs Power of Attorney:
- Understand the difference between being an appointee and having a Power of Attorney. An appointee manages benefit claims, while a Power of Attorney gives legal authority to make decisions and handle affairs.
Banking:
- Record bank account details, including types of accounts, bank details, access information (apps, telephone banking), and potential banking issues.
- Discuss and arrange legal permissions for handling your loved one's finances, like adding names to a Power of Attorney.
Outgoings and Bills:
- List all regular payments and expenses, like TV licenses, mobile phone bills, and broadband.
Insurance:
- Document all insurance policies, including details of coverage, renewal dates, and payment methods.
Reference Numbers:
- Keep a record of essential numbers like National Insurance, NHS, hospital, and Blue Badge numbers.
- Note down the expiration dates and renewal processes for important documents like passports and travel or transportation cards.
Having this information organised and accessible will be crucial for managing your loved one's financial and legal matters efficiently, and will ensure that you're prepared to handle these responsibilities effectively.
To read more about resources available to families, including the Preparing to Support programme and to sign up to the Families' Newsletter, please click here.
