Lasting Power of Attorney Accessing Donors Email Accounts and Post

TheEssexAvenger

Hello all, I need help regarding my father-in-law's LPA for finance.  The donor is currently in a care home and is very happy there. Can his LPA for finance access his email accounts and read his post?  

Floss

Only if it is registered, the donor has said they can AND gives permission.

If you are genuinely concerned, there is an option to report that on the Gov.uk page in the LPA section.

TheEssexAvenger

That's great.  Thank you 

p00hsticks

As Floss says, if the donor agrees then yes.
I monitor and deal with all my mothers e-mails with her permission as she is visually impaired and can no longer use a computer herself. 

TheEssexAvenger

Oh and just one last question.  This is related to his post.  Can we redirect his post to the care home now?  Who would be responsible for arranging that?  Thanks

elsien

I would imagine the financial LPA can do that given that they would be the ones paying for the redirection to Royal Mail. 

TheEssexAvenger

Very good point there. And his post should be redirected to his care home?

elsien

Does he still have capacity - If yes then it’s completely up to him where his post gets redirected to.

Otherwise there is very little point in redirecting it there if he’s not going to understand it and the care home is going to open it with him then shove it in a corner somewhere.

I was working with a chap who lost his PIP mobility benefits because the care home helped him to open the letter and then stuck it in a drawer in his room without making anyone else  aware it was there and it was not something he could manage on his own. 

It may be worth a discussion with him and the care home as to his preferences and how they will support him to manage those on a day to day basis so things don’t get overlooked if you’re not able to get there regularly if he doesn’t want his post to come to you. 

TheEssexAvenger

Thanks @elsien.  That is sound advice.  Thank you

Savvy_Sue

I'd suggest that his post should go to whoever will deal with it, and IME that's NOT the care home ...

Cards and letters make it out of the office and into residents' hands at unpredictable rates. Officially everything is copied and kept in the office so that any necessary action can be taken, but that's also haphazard. 

Will his attorney see him regularly? We take post in and discuss as needed.

Katiehound

When I had POA for my mother all the 'official' stuff came to me as I was dealing with it. (and it ensured that things could not get put aside / mislaid.)
 Personal mail went direct to her in the residential home (this was in the days when folk wrote letters!!)
 However, when she went into a nursing home I asked everyone to send the letters to me as I was visiting several times each week.