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It links everyday practice to the Mental Capacity Act 2005 principles, covering presumption of capacity, supported decision making, best interests, and the least restrictive options. Guidance details preparation, communication, supported decision processes, documentation, and safeguarding against financial abuse and undue influence, including templates for capacity assessment and best-interests decisions.",{"@graph":63,"@context":118},[64,80,101],{"@type":65,"itemListElement":66},"BreadcrumbList",[67,71,74,77],{"item":68,"name":69,"@type":70,"position":9},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",{"item":72,"name":10,"@type":70,"position":73},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/",2,{"item":75,"name":51,"@type":70,"position":76},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/general/",3,{"item":78,"name":59,"@type":70,"position":79},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/making-financial-decisions-guidance-for-assessing-supporting-and-empowering-specific-decision-making/243035/",4,{"url":78,"name":59,"@type":81,"image":82,"author":87,"headline":59,"publisher":90,"fileFormat":93,"inLanguage":57,"description":61,"dateModified":94,"datePublished":95,"encodingFormat":93,"isAccessibleForFree":96,"interactionStatistic":97},"DigitalDocument",{"url":83,"@type":84,"width":85,"height":86},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/making-financial-decisions-guidance-for-assessing-supporting-and-empowering-specific-decision-making/243035.png","ImageObject",442,249,{"name":88,"@type":89},"Franzy","Person",{"url":68,"name":91,"@type":92},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-09-21","2026-09-12",true,{"@type":98,"interactionType":99,"userInteractionCount":76},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":100},"ViewAction",{"@type":102,"mainEntity":103},"FAQPage",[104,110,114],{"name":105,"@type":106,"acceptedAnswer":107},"Who is this guidance for and what does it focus on?","Question",{"text":108,"@type":109},"The guidance focuses on assessing an individual’s capacity in relation to financial decision-making and providing practical suggestions for supporting specific financial decisions. 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11  \nPurpose of the guide 12  \nCase scenarios 12  \nWhat’s covered in this guide? 13  \nMental Capacity Act 2005 14  \nWhy may people lack capacity? 14  \nMCA principles 15  \nPrinciple 1 – the presumption of capacity 17  \nPrinciple 2 – helping someone to make a decision 18  \nPrinciple 3 – the right to make an unwise decision 20  \nPrinciple 4 – decisions made on the person’s behalf must be in their best interests 21  \nPrinciple 5 – the least restrictive option 22  \nAssessing capacity 23  \nThe capacity test 25  \nAssessing capacity to make financial decisions 27  \nConsiderations before assessing capacity 30  \nChecklist before beginning the assessment 30  \nSupported decision making 35  \nFinancial Capacity and Financial Capability 36  \nProvide all relevant information along with what rights the person has 38  \nExplain what support can be offered 38  \nUnderstand the person’s situation 38  \nConsider if practical help may be needed 39  \nAllow sufficient time for the person to make the decision 39  \nRe-visit the decision on a regular basis 39  \nCapacity to choose who supports you with your finances 40  \nLocation and environment 40  \nTiming 41  \nCommunication 42  \nProps/scenarios 42  \nCulture, Spirituality & Values 43  \nIndependence and autonomy 43  \nBenefits of a money plan/financial passport 44  \nEmpowerment and Protection in relation to finances 45  \nAdvocacy 46  \nSupport from an advocate 46  \nFinancial advocacy 49  \nWho should carry out a capacity assessment? 50  \nProfessional involvement 53  \nReasonable Belief 55  \nPreparing for a Capacity Assessment 56  \nThe person’s support network 56  \nUndue influence/coercion 56  \nCapacity and Executive functioning 56  \nDefining the decision(s) 59  \nAssessing Capacity 61  \nAssessing capacity flow chart 61  \nThe ladder of assessing capacity 62  \nPreparation of questions and using open questions 63  \nConsiderations for what assessment may be like for the person 64  \nCapacity Assessment for financial decision-making 65  \nRecording Assessments 78  \nDeputies/attorneys recording 78  \nBest Interests 79  \nBest interests ‘checklist’ 80  \nWho can make best interests decisions in relation to finances? 83  \nAttorneys (donee) appointed by a person (donor) 83  \nDeputies appointed by the court to manage a person’s property and (financial) affairs 87  \nFamily carers, care workers and support workers. 90  \nAppointees 91  \nMediation 91  \nIndependent report/view 92  \nSafeguarding 93  \nWho is at risk from financial abuse? 93  \nSupport options to minimise risks 95  \nConcerns when coercion may be occurring 98  \nDeputies and attorneys misusing money 98  \nTop tips/recommendations 100  \nTemplates 103  \nAssessing Capacity Checklist 103  \nCapacity Assessment Template for assessing a person’s capacity to manage aspects of their finances 104  \nCapacity Assessment Template for assessing a person’s capacity for a specific financial decision 120 Form for making best interests decisions 125  \nEmpowerment Matters survey 130  \nUseful Resources 131  \n6  \nAcknowledgements  \nAn online survey was set up to find out the views from anyone who has an interest in the assessment of a person’s capacity to make decisions about their finances. Responses were received from people who came from a wide range of backgrounds. Their contributions were extremely valuable and highlighted many issues experienced when attempting to assess a person’s capacity for financial decision-making. Many people offered their experiences in resolving issues and we are grateful to them for sharing these. Many are included in this guide.  \nThe draft guide was circulated for comment to a reference group made up of a wide range of people and organisations. We would like to thank those people","cbCaitQew7xshRcQ","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaitQew7xshRcQ","pdf",1469514,134,"English","# Contents\n## Acknowledgements\n## Empowerment Matters CIC\n## Scope of the guidance\n## Guide Reference Group\n## Introduction\n## Who is this guide for?\n## Purpose of the guide\n## Case scenarios\n## What’s covered in this guide?\n## Mental Capacity Act 2005\n## Why may people lack capacity?\n## MCA principles\n## Assessing capacity\n## Supported decision making\n## Recording Assessments\n## Best Interests\n## Safeguarding\n## Templates\n## Useful Resources","[{\"question\":\"Who is this guidance for and what does it focus on?\",\"answer\":\"The guidance focuses on assessing an individual’s capacity in relation to financial decision-making and providing practical suggestions for supporting specific financial decisions. It is aimed at improving understanding of decision-specific capacity assessment in this area.\"},{\"question\":\"What key principles guide capacity and decision support under the Mental Capacity Act 2005?\",\"answer\":\"The guide covers the MCA principles including the presumption of capacity, helping someone to make a decision, supporting the right to make an unwise decision, best interests for decisions made on the person’s behalf, and choosing the least restrictive option.\"},{\"question\":\"How does the guide address safeguarding and risks of financial abuse?\",\"answer\":\"It explains who may be at risk from financial abuse, outlines support options to minimise risks, describes concerns when coercion may be occurring, and includes specific considerations such as deputies and attorneys misusing money.\"}]","Making Financial Decisions - Guidance for Assessing, Supporting and Empowering Specific Decision Making | PDF",47]