Appointeeship Service Charging Proposal

Overview

Kingston Council provides an Appointeeship Service, for people using social care services, who are unable to manage their benefits. This can be because they lack mental capacity or are severely disabled. People may lack mental capacity for a number of reasons. 

For example:

• they have dementia
• they have a learning disability
• they have a mental health problem
• they have had a serious brain injury or illness

The appointee is usually a relative or a trusted friend. There are also organisations that can act as an appointee, such as the council. 

Until now, Kingston Council has been offering the Appointeeship Service for free. Many other companies and councils charge for this service and due to financial pressures the council can no longer offer the service for free. 

So, we are looking at asking for service users to pay towards this service, so the service can continue to run for those that need it. 

The council remains committed to delivering a service that manages finances through appointeeship.  The proposal for charging for this service is based on how much money a service user has in savings. 

Any service users with combined savings under £3,000 will not pay the charge.

How to get in touch with us

If you have any questions, or need any of the information in a different format, please get in touch with us via phone: 020 8547 5000, or email asc.appointeeship@kingston.gov.uk

Why your views matter

Your views on this proposal are important to us and all the feedback we receive will be used to help decisions on charging for, and shaping the service we offer, to make it the best it possibly can be for those that need it.

What happens next

Thank you for your interest in the Appointeeship charging proposal. This survey has now closed.

The feedback will be reveiwed and is due to be presented at the council's People Commitee in September 2024.