Deputy’s Office

The Deputy’s Office manages the finances of social care clients who are unable to do so themselves. 

Clients, who are already receiving services from Adult Social Care, are referred to the Deputy’s Office when they are deemed to have lost the mental capacity to manage their financial affairs/personal welfare due to the following reasons: 

• Severe learning disability 
• Enduring Mental Health Condition; e.g. bi-polar, schizophrenia, schizoid disorder
• Dementia: e.g. Alzheimer’s, vascular etc
• Severe brain injury due to an accident, severe illness e.g. stroke or progressive neurological diseases (M.S, Parkinson’s, Huntingdon’s etc…)

Deputy Officers are issued with a court order from the Court of Protection, on behalf of the Local Authority, in which they are authorised to deal with someone’s property and financial affairs or personal welfare and on some occasions both of these things. 

A solicitor, family member or a friend can also apply to the Court of Protection to become a Deputy.  The nominated person or persons will be given the authorisation to manage most aspects of someone’s finances, e.g.; 

• Manage bank accounts
• Buy and sell property
• Manage benefits, occupational pensions etc
• Receive information from financial institutions 

The Deputy’s Office can be contacted in the following ways: 

 Phone: 0118 937 2835 
Email at: Deputys.office@reading.gov.uk or courtofprotectionenquiries@hmcts.gsi.gov.uk 

Deputy’s Office charges 

The following charges are collected from our clients who have the council appointed as their deputy and are set by the Court of Protection / Office of the Public Guardian. 

The following charges are the maximum charged annually and apply where the Court appoints the council to act as a deputy. These are broken down into different categories: 

1. Work up to and including the date upon which the court makes an order appointing a deputy for property and affairs – £944. 

2. Annual management fee where the court appoints a local authority deputy for property and affairs, payable on the anniversary of the court order – £982 – first year then £824 for the second and subsequent years. 

Note: where the client’s  assets are below £20,300, the local authority deputy for property and affairs may take an annual management fee which does not exceed 3.5% of the service user net assets on the anniversary of the court order. 

3. Annual property management fee to include work involved in preparing property for sale, instructing agents, conveyancers etc or the ongoing maintenance of property including management and letting of a rental property – £380. 

4. Preparation and lodgement of an annual report or account to the Office of the Public Guardian – £274. 

Deceased Estate Management 

When a client  passes away, the authority given to the council as deputy ends.  The council can, when they have been deputy, make arrangements regarding the administration of the estate, including planning a funeral. 

If the council do this, there is a charge of £40 per hour. 

Appointeeship 

As part of a trial, the council is now able to offer a limited number of appointeeships to help customers who are struggling with paying their bills.  

 The Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) can approve a council appointee to help you manage your finances:  

• Managing your bank account 
• Applying for benefits and pension payments 
• Setting up direct debits and paying your bills 
• Making arrangements with your creditors 
• Liaising with other council departments for services you receive 
• Creating a workable budget 
• Arranging for you to have personal allowance  

 Appointeeships are suitable for people who have capacity to manage other aspects of their lives but are unable to manage their finances for a variety of reasons. Perhaps the person who has previously helped you is now unable to, or you have difficulties remembering, accessing the internet or reading your bills.  

 An appointeeship could last from 6-18 months until payment plans are in place, and your finances are more manageable.    

 This service costs £80 to set up and £60 a month to run, which will be taken directly out of your benefits. On average it will take 8 to 12 weeks to set up. You can end an appointeeship at any time by notifying the Deputy’s Office and DWP.  

 Alternative options should be discussed, as there are services that provide free money management services, or alternative money management services can be found on the internet. 

 During the period of your appointeeship, the council will manage your bank account on your behalf.  We will support by negotiating with debtors and set up payments for your bills. You will be provided with a personal allowance for your day to day needs, and you will have a named officer who will be able to advise on your case. When your account is stable, with the correct benefits coming in and your regular outgoings set up, you will be supported to take back control of your finances.   

 Please speak to your social worker if you think that this would help you.  

 Places are limited and will be prioritised by need.