What is the minimum age for appointeeship?

As appointeeship is grounded in the management of welfare benefits, the service is generally unavailable to those under 16 (the minimum age to be an eligible benefit recipient). For those under 18, the key difference is that their appointee is more likely to be a family member or carers. This is simply due to age limiting the providers that are willing to take on the role.

Prospective appointees must be over the age of 18 to legally represent a vulnerable individual. This is a strict requirement that ensures appointees can efficiently carry out the service without interruption. Appointees should be able to demonstrate their competence, and their ability to act with the individual’s best interests at heart. Those who cannot meet the minimum age requirement will not be approved. Further, those who cannot meet the above requirements will generally be denied, particularly where a safeguarding concern is present.

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