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Appointeeship - FAQ's

What is a DWP Visiting Officer? | How to open Appointee Bank Account

To start an appointeeship application, you must first inform the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). Following this initial conversation, they will arrange for a meeting between you and the person you intend to act on behalf of, and a ‘Visiting Officer’ of theirs. These are professionals who will carry out all the necessary checks and assist with any questions that may arise.

Being sufficiently prepared for this meeting will help to make the process easier for all involved. The DWP should let you know the meeting time and officer’s name in a letter beforehand. You are also responsible for sourcing all the required documentation – such as financial statements and proof of identity. So that you feel prepared, keep in mind that these are some of the other things they will want to know:

  • If you can prove your identity, and your relationship to the vulnerable person.
  • If you understand the financial responsibilities associated with appointeeship.
  • That you are a suitable and willing person to manage someone else’s benefits.
  • That you are able to act in the best interests of the individual in question.


Unless the Visiting Officer has any concerns about your application or intentions, they should help you to fill out an official application form (BF56), which can then be submitted to the DWP.

Opening An Appointee Bank Account

All appointees are also required to open a dedicated bank account into which they can receive the individual’s benefit payments. This helps to ensure sufficient protection of client funds – keeping them separate from the appointee’s personal funds, and out of the vulnerable person’s direct control.

Through our tailored banking platform (Monika), prospective appointees can open a dedicated Appointee Bank Account for this very purpose. Below are just some of the key features that make out accounts ideal:

  • Free of charge and simple to open.
  • Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) protected.
  • Built-in welfare benefit check and entitlement calculator.
  • Upload and store relevant documentation securely.
  • Prepaid spending cards for carers/support workers.
  • Ability to set maximum/minimum balances on the cards.
  • Entry onto the Vulnerability Registration Service Database.

For further information about our Appointee Bank Accounts, please click here.

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