Looking after your financial affairs
What do we do?
If someone with savings or property, is 'mentally incapable' of looking after their own finances, we can ask the Court of Protection to allow Community, Health and Social Care Services to become legally responsible for that person's money. Community, Health and Social Care Services becomes the Receiver of the person's money. The Mental Health Act 1983 sets out how we should do this and who we can help.
What does mentally incapable mean?
This is usually decided by a doctor, but we often look after the money of older people with dementia, people with severe mental health needs and people with a learning difficulty. We will only do this, if we are worried that they cannot look after their own money.
Who can ask us for help?
We are often asked by social workers, doctors and carers. We are also asked by family members who do not feel that they can look after their relative's money, or who are worried in case someone else is stealing the money.
What can the Receiver do?
As a Receiver, we can
- have access to the person's bank account
- use the person's money to pay bills
- sell the person's home and household goods
- cash in savings certificates and premium bonds
- provide clothing and extra comforts, such as a new TV
- receive the person's social security benefits
- make a will
Whatever we do with the person's money, we have to send accounts to the Court every year.
What else do we do?
If someone is living in the community and has little money except their social security benefits, but is unable to look after this money, then we ask the Department of Work & Pensions (DWP) to make us the appointee for that person.
We would only do this if there was no one else able to be an appointee, if we were worried about someone stealing their money or if we needed to protect staff from allegations of stealing.
What to do if you are worried about a friend or relative?
If you are worried about someone and you think that they cannot look after their money, then you can contact us and we will try to advise you on how you can help.
Who to contact
- Name
- Client Affairs
- Address
- Crompton House
100 Chorley Road
Swinton
M27 6BP
- Telephone
- 0161 793 3594 Fax: 0161 793 3606
- social.services@salford.gov.uk
This page was last updated on 06 October 2008
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