Logging Power of Attorney with Pensions Service

Alleycat

Hello all,

I have recently been granted Power of Attorney for my mother in law who has now lost capacity to manage her affairs. Despite lots of searching I cannot find how I go about logging this with the Pensions Service. I do also need to update her address as she has gone into a nursing home and wondered if I could do that at the same time.

Could anyone advise on the questions above please?

Thank you all so much.

calcotti

Ring them on Monday and ask them what you need to do https://www.gov.uk/contact-pension-service Telephone: 0800 731 0469

anmarj

You need to send either the original or a certified copy to them, which must be the full document, also include a letter with it stating your mum national insurance on the letter, detail her new address and when from. Also include your NI, (they use it to link your record) and confirm your address (sometimes address are not correct). If you send an original, if you do it by recorded delivery, they will post it back to you by recorded delivery. Once done, a letter should be sent to you. Use the address on any letter sent to your mum for the Pension Service.

xylophone

Is she also in receipt of Attendance Allowance?

You can contact the helpline

0800 731 0122 to advise the change of address etc.

Alleycat

Thank you for all your replies. Xylophone, she doesn't claim Attendance Allowance.

We are really loath to send off the only validated copy of the POA that we have to the Pension Service as whilst they may return it recorded delivery it could take a long time and that's not something we have on our side right now. Plus we are going to need it for solicitors this week. The only thing we needed to do would be to change her address but as she only has a few weeks left to live, that may be by the by. It won't affect how much she is paid in State Pension and Pension Credit.

xylophone

Plus we are going to need it for solicitors this week.

The solicitors could certify a copy of the PoA.

badmemory

Make an appointment at your local Job Centre they will do a copy free if it is for DWP/HMRC. This will save on costs.



Do claim attendance allowance. I was told by my mother's care home manager that just needing (ie not a matter of choice/convenience)to be in a care home should get the higher rate.

calcotti

badmemory wrote: »

Do claim attendance allowance. I was told by my mother's care home manager that just needing (ie not a matter of choice/convenience)to be in a care home should get the higher rate.

If she is in a nursing home she is not eligible for Attendance Allowance if the fees (in full or part) are paid for her from public funds, she is eligible if she is paying the full costs herself. Higher rate is automatically awarded if DS1500 has been issued. AA can be paid while in a hospice.

badmemory

If she is self funding then she is entitled to attendance allowance. If the LA is funding then she is not. If she alone owns a property then she is self funding even if at the moment that funding is not available

Alleycat

She's not self funding as her fees are covered in full by Continuing Health Care funding and so she would not be eligible for Attendance Allowance.

So far, she has survived longer than we had been given to expect. A diet of lucozade and a small amount of icecream seems to suit her! She's still not got a huge amount of time but given your advice, we will make an appointment at the job centre.

Do you know if it would need to be at her local one or ours?

Thank you all so much for taking the time to reply.