Money Advice Unit
Click on the link below for information and advice from Adult Care Services, Hertfordshire's Money Advice Unit and other trusted sources on a range of subjects including:
Care costs
Benefits
Contact points if you need to talk to someone.
Universal Credit
In general, young people in education cannot apply for Universal Credit, but there are some exceptions.
For example, a young person may be able to claim Universal Credit from the September following their 19th birthday if the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) decides that no work-related requirements apply to their claim.
Young people aged 16 and over can also apply if a medical professional advises they have less than 12 months to live.
As eligibility rules can be complex and individual circumstances vary, it is advisable to contact the DWP for guidance on a specific situation.
There is a summary of eligibility requirements and things to consider in the linked document below.
Benefits Appointee
If someone isn't able to manage their own money, you can apply to the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) to become their appointee.
An appointee is responsible for making and managing any benefit claims and resulting finances; this means that they can use the benefits (e.g Universal Credit, PIP) in the person's best interests.
To apply to be an appointee, you need to contact the relevant benefits department; a list of key contacts is available on the website below. Once an application is made, the DWP carry out an assessment to see if they feel an appointee is needed; this can involve going to one of their centres, or a home visit if more appropriate.
Deputyships
Deputyships are applied for through the Court of Protection (CoP) and allow a nominated person to make certain decisions on behalf of another adult if they do not have capacity. There are 2 types of deputyships:
1. Property and Financial Affairs
Some useful websites relating to property and financial affairs deputyships are linked below.
2. Personal Welfare
More information about personal welfare deputyships is available at the link below
The court grants very few Personal Welfare Deputyships in comparison to Property and Financial Affairs Deputyships.
Please note - Deputyships are a very complex topic and school staff are unable to provide legal advice. You may wish to seek independent legal advice to understand your options and make an informed decision.
Power of Attorney
Families sometimes hear about Power of Attorney. A Power of Attorney can only be made by someone who has the mental capacity to make that decision themselves. Deputyship is used when a person lacks capacity and the Court of Protection appoints someone to act on their behalf.
Wills and Trusts
Some families may wish to consider exploring a trust as a way of planning for the future; money in a trust does not count towards income or savings limits so should not affect means tested benefits such as Universal Credit.
Mencap have a Wills and Trusts Service which provides advice and information about financial planning. They offer regular Planning for the Future webinars which are available to book onto at the link below.
Scope also have some information about trusts on their website:
Charity Grants
There are a range of charities and other organisations that offer grants towards equipment, holidays and other support services. The document below outlines some of the schemes that are available and their criteria:
