Can I access a client’s bank statements?

Money Carer have a legal and fiduciary requirement to safeguard access to our clients’ personal information. This is specified in principle F of GDPR compliance law – the ‘integrity and confidentiality’ or ‘security’ principle. Equally, we have a Duty of Confidentiality as determined in the Mental Capacity Act (2005), section 7.64.

Therefore, it is not our standard process to provide carers or family members with our clients’ private bank statements or financial information. Particularly for those without the capacity to express their consent, if we do not feel that a request is necessary, it will not be authorised. Our policy is aligned with solicitors who act as Court of Protection deputies for vulnerable individuals.

We do, however, provide access to bank statements for those managing Carer Cards with us. As this assists carers with everyday shopping, as well as meeting care reconciliation requirements, many find this to be an invaluable service. These statements can be accessed and downloaded 24 hours a day via our secure portal or smartphone app.

Often, when carers are making these requests, they are really trying to understand if a client has enough money to pay for a larger purchase. It is for this reason that we have developed our ‘savings envelope’ feature. This allows us to share the amount of excess funds, relative to required monthly amounts, that can be used. Clients’ savings envelopes can be viewed in our secure portal or smartphone app. Requests for larger purchases using these funds can be made there, too.

For further guidance, our secure portal can be accessed here.

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Appointeeship, Deputyship, Power of Attorney, Money Management, Banking, Families, Carer Cards, Operational and Policy