ASD and Appointee

MyLonelyWorld

They got back to me on Friday evening. I informed them of the change of circumstances. I'm going to have to wait until after the new year for anymore progress.

BorisThomson

Things with social services can move very very slowly I'm afraid.

Are you able to stay with your grandparents in the meantime?

MyLonelyWorld

I'm able to stay here as long as I want within reason. I can't stay here indefinitely though. Family members who are in the know are offering support to get things sorted.

It's been suggested that I go down to the Job Centre and try and get things moving there, but I'm not sure how that will work in terms of getting social services to take over managing my money.

Ames

This is where it gets complicated. The DWP and job centre aren't allowed to talk to you f you have an appointee. You're going to have to get help, and social services are the best ones to do that.

It's really bad timing, with it being Christmas, but it's great that family are prepared to help.

elsien

Have you had a Care Act needs assessment? You can request one from the local authority and that would give you an idea of what your support needs are considered to be, and the help you might get moving forward.
From what you have said you should also qualify for a Care Act advocate to help you get your views across, as your mum clearly isn't going to be able to advocate for you given the conflicts of interest.
Do you think you need an appointee? If no, then you can ask for a capacity assessment around managing your own money. If you still want/need an appointee it doesn't have to be your mum. You have have one of the charities who offer an appointee service, but there is usually a charge for the service. Social services would help with that.

It may help you if you start writing down some of the issues and how you feel about them so you're not put on the spot with any face to face meetings.

MyLonelyWorld

I've had no sort of assessment yet. I'm currently waiting for social services to assign me a social worker, which I assume will be in the new year.

As for do I need an appointee/advocate? I'm not entirely sure what it entails. I do need help and assistance with everything related to my benefits - forms and assessments (I can become non-verbal and shutdown under stress). Dealing with money is something I have concerns about and would prefer assistance with. I don't know what things would look like if social services had control of my benefits.

elsien

Appointee and advocate are two different things.
The appointee would help you to manage your money and ensure bills were paid.
The advocate would help you to be involved in the assessments, to understand what is going on, and to say things for you if you struggled to say them for yourself.

Ames

A lot of people need help with benefits, there are places to get help. Are you worried about dealing with your ,money because you've never done it or been allowed to try, or because you don't think you can handle it even if someone teaches you? You don't need to answer here, just think about it for when you talk to Social Services about what help you need.

MyLonelyWorld

In regards to money, I would be concerned about budgeting and making money last etc, as it's not something I've had opportunity to do.

I'm concerned about benefit related assessments incase I don't say something correctly, or I misreport something, or just a general mistake that will affect my benefits.

nicetomeetyou

Social services taking appointeeship of your money will be the last resort as it’s not taken likely, they will conduct a capacity assessment after all other options have failed.