What is the difference between appointeeship and deputyship?
While appointeeship and deputyship are both support services available to those without decision-making capacity, there are a number of key differences that help to distinguish them.
Authorisation
Appointeeship
Authorised by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
Deputyship
Authorised by the Court of Protection (COP) and further regulated by the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG).
Scope
Appointeeship
Covers matters relating to welfare benefits and everyday finances. This authority is legally recognised by a number of relevant providers – such as local authorities and utility providers.
Deputyship
Covers a wider range of affairs and can apply to matters relating to both financial and health/welfare concerns. This authority extends to private bank accounts and trusts, for example.
Reviews
Appointeeship
Appointees are required to complete regular reviews of their role, as well as the benefits that an individual is receiving. This will typically involve requests for recent bank statements and relevant circumstantial information. For the most part, these reviews are done via post and then returned to the DWP alongside supporting information.
Deputyship
Deputies are required to submit a comprehensive annual report to the OPG. This report must detail all financial decisions/actions taken, as well as any relevant circumstantial changes. For those managing health and welfare matters, the OPG will also require all information pertaining to this. For this reason, consistent record-keeping should remain a priority.
Eligibility
Appointeeship
This specifically applies to those currently receiving/eligible for welfare benefits (as appointees are legally required to manage benefit payments). Eligibility also depends on a person’s capacity to manage their own finances on a day-to-day basis. Those represented by an appointee can still handle more complex financial decisions themselves, but typically require additional support with everyday money management.
Deputyship
This applies to those under more complex financial/personal circumstances, who may not have the capacity to make these significant decisions themselves. Where someone requires assistance with matters such as trusts, private bank accounts/pensions, or property, they can likely benefit from deputyship. This also enables individuals to still make smaller, day-to-day decisions for themselves, where possible.
Not sure which service is more applicable?
To find out more, don’t hesitate to contact us, or download our appointeeship guide.