IS20 - A guide to Income Support

Making a claim

Help with cashing your benefit

If you are getting Income Support and have it paid into an account but are unable to collect your payment, you can either:

• Ask your bank or building society if arrangements can be made for someone else to collect the money for you; or
• Arrange with your social security office to have your money paid into someone else’s account on your behalf – this should be a friend or relative who you trust. 

If you have a Post Office® card account and you are unable to collect your payment, you can apply for someone you trust to have permanent access to your account and to collect the money for you. Ask at your Post Office branch for an application form.

If your illness or disability will be long term and the same person is cashing your cheque for a long time contact the office dealing with your claim to discuss your payment options.

A person who cannot look after their own affairs due to mental illness or mental disability may need someone to act in their place. In England and Wales, if their affairs are already being handled by a receiver appointed by the Court of Protection or there is a Power of Attorney, this person will normally be able to handle benefit matters. In Scotland, if there is a Power of Attorney, the court has appointed a judicial factor or there is a guardian acting or appointed under the Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act 2000, this will normally count for benefit purpose.

If there is no one with the above authority, then a relative, friend or organisation eg a Local Authority, can apply to the Department to be appointed to act on behalf of the customer – this person is known as an appointee. [Legislation (42)]

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