What happens when a person with an appointee dies?

When a person with an appointee dies, the representative’s duties end – effective immediately. It is the appointee’s responsibility to notify the DWP at the earliest convenience. To authorise this, they may also require a copy of the official death certificate.

Executors (those dealing with the individual’s estate) should contact the appointee to enquire about the release of funds/documentation. To avoid further complications, the appointee should also make a pointed effort to get in touch with this person, to facilitate the proceedings.

Generally, funeral expenses are the one exception to the way funds can be handled during this time. Despite the fact that appointees are not permitted to make or receive payments during this time, they are legally authorised to cover the funeral payment (provided there are sufficient funds in the account they held on the individual’s behalf). This applies exclusively to the invoice from the funeral organiser.

If the appointee dies, the main priority becomes the vulnerable individual and the supports available to them. All relevant parties should be informed of the death as soon as possible, to ensure there is minimal disruption to the person’s care. It then becomes the joint responsibility of the DWP and the person’s support network to search for a new appointee. They should also ensure that sufficient financial support is in place during this period.

To find out more about appointeeship, please download our appointeeship guide.