bank account for severely learning disabled

parapusher

Hi, the DLA who are at present sending me giro cheques for my 17 yr old son, but want to pay into a bank account. It's for the "getting around" part of the DLA, he doesn't get the care component as he is in residential school (52 weeks). I would like to keep his money separate to mine, I use some of it to keep my car on the road, which is mainly used for taking him out, but I'd like to build up a small amount for when he leaves school and goes into residential care - just enough to buy some things for his room etc.

Anyway, I thought a Post office payment account would be good, my partner has one for his incapacity benefit, but I'm having trouble opening one for my son. They have insisted on proof of identity for him suggesting: Driving Licence, passport , utility bills in his name. I have his birth certificate and a blue badge/bus card but that's all, all his benefit letters come in my name as his appointee.

Tried a building society, but they won't open an account unless I have power of attourney, and I don't think they are available if the person themselves can't understand what they are doing.

I ended up opening a joint account for my older son, for me and him, when he was 18, he received EMA in his name, and the Halifax accepted that letter with birth certificate. They wouldn't let him have an account on his own as he has no credit rating. I was able to take him to the branch with me, as he is hasn't such challenging behaviour (e.g. he doesn't pinch/bite me)

Unfortunately this means that if I apply for income support, which I may need to do soon, when we stop qualifying for Child Tax Credit and Child Maintenance, the benefits agency take account of his savings as belonging to me.

Sorry to be so long winded - my question is has anyone found a bank who would open an account for someone who is severely learning disabled (i.e. non-verbal, challenging behaviour, unable to sign name, unable to wait in queue at bank, would wreck the place!) who has none of the usual forms of ID?

Thanks for reading

Lynne

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3onitsway

Sorry, I've got no advice - but i'm waiting for someone to come along with some answers!

My son is almost 12 with severe learning disabilities and autism. Since he was a baby he's had a Young Saver account with Nat West (as has my DD). These are accounts in their names, but I control/sign for them.

Last year, around his 11th birthday, i was at the bank paying in some birthday money for him, when the counter assistant said that now he'd turned 11, he'd have to change his account as there was an age 11 limit on the young saver. He'd be upgraded to an account for 11-18 year olds, which they control themselves - they also receive a cash card and pin number. All he needed to do was fill in a form!

I explained his disabilities and how he was (and would probably always) unable to read/write therefore unable to complete the form or run his own bank account.

The assistant said i can fill in the form for him, and just get him to sign it as they'd need his signature for him to use the account.

I explained his disabilities again as above! - but again it didn't sink in :mad: .

Frustrated, I left saying i'd sort it out another time - but haven't heard anything since and haven't bothered to go in and try and sort something out!!

allydowd

How about opening an account online? usually you just put in the details and then they send you the paperwork to sign.

Or maybe a basic Post Office account?

munchings-n-crunchings

Hello,

I've just checked my bank's policy on Identification.

On a student account, if you don't have all the usual forms, passport etc,
You can use:-
Blue Badge
Benefits award letter.

I know you've said that they are in your name as appointee, but the letter will also mention the fact that you are dealing with the claim for your son, and name him.

I bank at lloyds tsb, and act as third party on my son's account, just so I can assist with issues that arise.

It's worth a try, and if you explain the problems I usually find them helpful,

Regards
Munchie

aspilynne

Thanks Munchie, I'll try Lloyds Bank and see what they say.

To: 3onitsway, my sons mentioned are both autistic and I was diagnosed at 40 yrs old with Aspergers Syndrome (not a surprise to professionals who had known me through my children for years, apparently)

Lynne

Gemmzie

Once he turns 18 then you do need power of attorney in place, best to speak to CAB who should be able to put you in contact with disability specialists as I believe you can get it done for a very reduced rate.

Savvy_Sue

Actually, I think you can get Power of Attorney for someone who doesn't understand what it's about. It is more complicated, obviously, but I think you'd find this page from the Office of the Public Guardian website a good starting point.

Not sure how young a person can be before this starts to be appropriate, but for the OP at least it can't be far off.

Cross-posted with Gemmzie, the idea of getting help from CAB is a good one.

LittleTinker

You can ask the benefit agency for an Invitation to open a post office account. This is an account that is specifically for benefit to be paid into and doesnt need any other ID other than the Invitation. You cannot have Direct Debits or anything like that with it.

Hope that helps.

parapusher

Hi LittleTinker, the post office account you mentioned is the one I was trying to get. I had the invitation letter, but they still wanted all the proof of ID. I'll try Lloyds bank one day next week, otherwise I'll just have it paid into my own bank account to be going on with. The DLA don't mind paying into an account with the wrong name, as my partners is paid into my account.
Lynne

Dobiesmon

Hi
I have an account at the halifax in my name only all my sons benifits dla and ic are paid direct to me as well as my own carers and is .
I opened a saving account in both my name and my son's, I can and do on line transfer money over each week to pay dd set up and keep an eye on the account .as its joint any one of us can use it .

He did have his own at the tsb and with cc they gave him got into trouble with out me knowing only to find the letters much later.

scooby1001

My mum has got a power of attorney and and lasting power of attorney over me cos i have mental health problems that mean i can't be trusted with finances etc so she does it all BUT i don't think you would be able to do one of them for your son because i believe the person has to know what is going on and sign. You might have to have a chat to a solicitor who may be able to advise you.