A Deputy is put in place by the Court of Protection and undertakes the responsibility for the management of all of a person’s financial affairs if they become incapable of doing so themselves.

This may include managing savings, pensions and all other sources of income or assets including property and valuables. The exact level of responsibility and authority granted by the Court of Protection varies as it depends on the individual court order granted.

A Deputy is supervised and regulated by the Office of the Public Guardian, or the OPG, whilst appointees are regulated by the Department of Work and Pensions, or the DWP. An Appointee has the responsibility to act in the best interest of the individual by managing a person’s welfare benefits in order to ensure that everyday bills are paid and to report any changes in circumstances to the DWP.

Hence, an appointee has a much smaller level of legal authority over someone’s finances as it is simply restricted to their welfare benefit payments.

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