Advice on being a Appointee

Hello Silverfox,

And yes, I think have understood your message perfectly.

You can apply to become your wife’s appointee, and the details of how to do this are here.

If you go down this route you legally become the person with whom the DWP communicates with regard to all aspects of her benefits, not just PIP. So in an application for benefits although it is her name on the form, it is your signature, at an assessment it is you representing her, although you can choose to invite her to attend with you, her benefit money is paid to you for her benefit, you have to inform the DWP of changes of circumstances etc etc.

Because this is very significant step, there are obviously checks, as described in the link above. Pre Covid these checks used to involve a face to face interview, but currently it is a phone call with both sides, in your case with you and your wife, independently.

If you have been down this process and been appointed as an appointee, then you have full legal rights to represent your wife through this entire process and anything else linked to DWP benefits.

If you choose not go down this route, or you have started it but not yet been appointed as her appointee there is a possibility of being her representative.

Assuming your wife has the cognitive capability you need to send a letter to the DWP in her name as soon as possible, saying that she is not capable of representing herself at the PIP telephone assessment and she is nominating you to do it.
The letter needs to include the
• name of her chosen representative (i.e. you) (who must be over 18)
• her relationship to you (wife)
• Consent for the her personal information related to the assessment to be shared with you
• Assurance that you know about her disability / medical condition and how this impacts on her mobility and ability to complete daily living activities.

She needs to sign that that letter. You also need to send them a letter, in the same envelope, saying that your wife has asked you to represent her at the PIP telephone assessment and you are willing to do so. As with everything, keep a copy of those letters. (If you happen to have any evidence of why she cannot represent herself, I would include it with these letters as well as with the application form.)

When you receive the phone call for the assessment you will need to be able to give your wife’s full name, her address and date of birth, the reason you are representing her, your relationship to her and confirmation that you know about her disability / medical condition and how this impacts on her mobility and ability to complete daily living activities. Finally you should be asked if you are still willing to act as her representative.

At this point, you may need to stand your ground, and even become obstinate. The Assessor may try to pull your wife into the assessment given that in reality she is likely to be in the same building. You may need to become a ‘broken record’ and just keep insisting that your wife does not have the capacity to represent herself (or whatever it is) and has requested that you do it for her. You have the right!

(Note unlike becoming an Appointee, this explicit consent does not last forever, so if it is going to be an ongoing situation you do need to apply for Appointeeship.)

Silverfox, I am sorry that this is a rather long answer, but I have tried to tell you everything I think you might need to know.

Do come back to us if you have any more questions.

I hope everything goes well for you and your wife.

Catherine

Hi Silverfox,

Although I think we all have horror stories of the DWP and decisions they have made, most people you speak to there are really helpful. I am pleased you had such a person!

Catherine