Consent for finances and housing

Law and practice Other
1

I am an NR of a patient who has recently been given a section 2.
This is the third hospital stay since October 24.
I have never had to have much dealing with consent and the legalities but struggling this time round and have called numerous people who have no idea how to help.
1- The patient is in receipt of universal credit and PIP. Patient does not have a bank account or ID so PIP is paid into my account and universal credit is paid by vouchers given at the job centre which are then cashed at a post office.
When in hospital you are still entitled to UC however, as she is currently in hospital can not collect this. NR (myself) is happy to have it paid into my account but the Unerversal credit team say they can’t give me any information on how to get money to her if I am not named on her UC account. I need to know what it is they need in terms of proof etc etc to collect on her behalf or in my account but can not get an answer due to GDPR.

2- after a section 2 discharge in November 24, patient was sectioned again 2 weeks later under section 3 two weeks later for a period of 8 weeks. She was discharged as street homeless.
MHT deem her well enough to not require supported accommodation however, due to psychotic breaks and not being able to keep housing assessment appointments she was given notice by the council.
We think they may have found her intentionally homeless but this can be challenged as it was due to her condition.
I have managed to get her consent before she was hospitalised to allow a solicitor to deal with her case. They have instructed us to obtain a few details and to get these we need her consent.
We have no paperwork as she did not go to another address after this so we do not have the paperwork to say who her housing officer or assessment number us which is vital.
As she was deemed as not having capacity before we could obtain consent as we were unable to find who to contact this is difficult.
I have tried shelter, citizens advice, a local housing regerral charity , mind, universal credit and Manchester City council and no one can advise.
Has anyone experienced this and if so, can point me in the direction of who to contact, how to skip consent if she is not able to currently consent?

2

If this person has been detained on section 3 then the local authority and NHS will be under an obligation to provide aftercare on discharge to prevent further relapse and readmission. An IMHA (independent MH Advocate) can get involved to argue this person’s case, and a solicitor with MH experience should also be able to provide advice. There absolutely needs to be a section 117 care plan setting out the aftercare the person will need.

3

Have you looked into becoming an appointee?
Become an appointee for someone claiming benefits - GOV.UK

4

She is currently under a section 2(which will possibly go under section 3 later). The previous section was section 3 . I was please that she would then be entitled to section 117 aftercare but apparently this was not the case.
The support worker who helped her get accommodation had raised the issue that she was still experiencing psychosis with the team but thus was ignored . When I questioned with him her legal entitlement to section 117 aftercare he said (from many case experiences) that this is not the case and you are not necessarily entitled to it.

5

I have asked them about this yes but it says the following :

  1. DWP arranges to visit the claimant to assess if an appointee is needed.
  2. DWP interviews you to make sure you’re a suitable appointee.
  3. During the interview, you and the interviewer fill out an appointee application form (Form BF56)
    So for the first point number 1, I don’t think it is in her best interests health wise for someone from the DWP to see her due to how her psychosis is and I doubt they would even get into the hospital.
    The rest looks like it would be completed by the time she is already out if I go by experience of her dealings with them