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Caring for a vulnerable relative
Office of Care & Protection

Caring for someone vulnerable

Office of Care and Protection

On this page

Open or close an account Open in new window

What is an Office of Care and Protection Order? Open in new window

What can you do as a controller? Open in new window

Frequently asked questions Open in new window

A Office of Care and Protection Order can only be put in place if the account owner lacks the capacity to make decisions for themselves.

Registering an Office of Care and Protection Order

Select one of the buttons below to start registering an Office of Care and Protection Order online or in a branch.

If more than one controller is being added, you'll need to register each controller individually online or you can visit a Ulster branch and bring the appropriate documents with you.

All online applications are subject to additional checks and on some occasions a branch visit may be required.

Get ready to apply online

Follow these three steps

Step 1: Complete the eForm

Fill in the Application to add Office of Care & Protection Controller Order eform.

Step 2: Email us your documents

Send your OCP order to us at Courtofprotection@natwest.com.
Add the patient's sort code and account number in the subject line. If these are missing, we can't process your request.

Other documents you may need to give us

Photo of all contollers' signatures if they:

act together (jointly), or
act in a professional role.

File rules:

images must be 5MB or less
save documents as PDF.

Step 3: Confirm your identity

Once we get your eForm and Office of Care and Protection Order, we'll send you an email or text from our trusted security partner, Mitek.

Use the link in the Mitek email or text to upload your ID.

It will guide you to:

take a selfie,
upload photo ID,
upload proof of address (if needed).

Proof of identity we can accept when applying online

Valid passport
Full UK driving licence
EU/EEA driving licence
EU/EEA national identity card
UK provisional driving licence

If you are a non‑UK or non‑EU national living in the UK, you can also use a non‑UK/EU passport as proof of identity.
To use this, you must provide a valid eVisa Share Code.

Your passport must:

in date
match the details in your application.

For more information, or to get eVisa Share Code, please visit gov.uk.

If you don't have any of the above, please visit a branch to complete your application, as this can't be done online.

Proof of address we can accept when applying online

Full UK driving licence (if not being used for proof of identity).
UK provisional driving licence (if not being used for proof of identity).
Bank statement (if using a NatWest Group statement, must be different from brand you're applying for -dated within last 6 months).
Credit Union statement (dated within last 6 months).
Mortgage statement/Solicitor mortgage correspondence (dated within last 12 months).
HMRC letter (notice of tax code or national insurance confirmation letter).
Benefit agency documents (dated within last 12 months).
Utility bill (dated within last 6 months).
Council tax bill (dated within last 12 months).

See more details on proof of identification and proof of address on our Caring for someone vulnerable page.

Registering an OCP Order in a branch

Here's what you need to know

Before you visit

No appointment needed.
The account holder (patient) does not need to come with you.
The branch can register your OCP as long as you bring the right documents.

What to bring

The original Office of Care and Protection Order or a certified copy.
An acceptable form of identification.
Proof of address.

Both the identification and proof of address must match the details on the Office of Care and Protection Order.

Proof of identity we accept when applying in branch

Valid passport
Driving licence (UK, EU/EEA, ROI)
EU/EEA national ID card
NI electoral office ID card
Military ID card
eVisa

If you don’t have any of the documents listed above, we can accept these instead

Translink Smartpass
HMRC letter: notice of tax coding for previous or current tax year, or national insurance confirmation letter.
Benefits letter from the Department for Work & Pensions (DWP), Department for Communities (DFC), Jobcentre Plus or Universal Credit.

The letter:

must be dated within the last 12 months and show the benefit is still valid
must be dated within the last 3 months if it doesn’t confirm ongoing benefit
can only be used if not already used as proof of address.

Proof of address we accept when applying in branch

Bank statement (if using a NatWest Group statement, must be different from brand you're applying for -dated within last 6 months).
Credit Union statement (dated within last 6 months).
Council tax bill (dated within last 12 months).
Utility bill/statement (dated within last 6 months).
Mortgage statement/Solicitor mortgage correspondence (dated within last 12 months).
Driving Licence (UK or ROI).
HMRC letter (notice of tax code or national insurance confirmation letter).
Local council/ Housing authority/Northern Ireland Housing Executive tenancy agreement.

If you don’t have any of the documents listed above, we can accept a benefits letter from the Department for Work & Pensions (DWP), Department for Communities (DFC), Jobcentre Plus or Universal Credit.

The letter:

must be dated within the last 12 months and show that the benefit is still valid
must be dated within the last 3 months if it does not confirm ongoing benefit
this can only be used if it is not already being used as proof of identity.

See more details on proof of identification and proof of address on our Caring for someone vulnerable page.

Find a branch near you

Use our branch locator to find your nearest branch.

Open or close an Office of Care and Protection account

For account opening and closing

Each controller must complete their own form if applying online.
Once we’ve confirmed your identity and received all required documents, we’ll process the request within three working days.
We’ll let you know as soon as the account has been opened or closed.

For account closing only

This option can only be used if the controller hasn’t already been added to the patient's accounts.
When applying online, controllers must use the same account details for any money to be sent to.

Open an account with an Office of Care and Protection order

Account opening with an Office of Care and Protection order

Choose how you'd like to apply

You can open the account either:

Online – only for personal controllers (not professional or local authority controllers).
In a branch – available to all controller types.

Get ready to apply online

Step 1: Complete the eForm

Fill in the Office of Care and Protection account opening eForm.
Step 2: Email us your documents

Send us a full copy of Office of Care and Protection order to us at Courtofprotection@natwest.com.

Please include either:

the patients sort code and account number, or
their full name and date of birth

If this information is missing, we won’t be able to process your request.

File rules:

Images must be 5MB or less
Save documents as PDF

Step 3: Confirm your identity

Once we've reviewed your documents, we’ll send you an email or text from our trusted security partner, Mitek

Use the link in the Mitek email or text to upload your ID.

It will guide you to:

take a selfie,
upload photo ID,
upload proof of address (if needed).

Once we’ve confirmed your identity and received all your documents, we’ll process your Office of Care and Protection application within three working days.

Proof of identity we can accept when applying online

Valid passport
Full UK driving licence
EU/EEA driving licence
EU/EEA national identity card
UK provisional driving licence

If you are a non‑UK or non‑EU national living in the UK, you can also use a non‑UK/EU passport as proof of identity.
To use this, you must provide a valid eVisa Share Code.

Your passport must:

in date
match the details in your application.

For more information, or to get eVisa Share Code, please visit gov.uk.

If you don't have any of the above, please visit a branch to complete your application, as this can't be done online.

Proof of address we can accept when applying online

Full UK driving licence (if not being used for proof of identity)
UK provisional driving licence (if not being used for proof of identity)
Bank statement (if using a NatWest Group statement, must be different from brand you're applying for -dated within last 6 months)
Credit Union statement (dated within last 6 months)
Mortgage statement/Solicitor mortgage correspondence (dated within last 12 months)
HMRC letter (notice of tax code or national insurance confirmation letter)
Benefit agency documents (dated within last 12 months)
Utility bill (dated within last 6 months)
Council tax bill (dated within last 12 months)

See more details on proof of identification and proof of address on our Caring for someone vulnerable page

Proof of address we can accept when applying online - whilst living abroad

Bank statement (if using a NatWest group statement, must be from a different brand you're applying for - dated within the last 6 months).
Utility bill (dated within last 6 months).
Mortgage statement (dated within the last 12 months).
Credit Union statement (dated within last 6 months).

We cannot accept:

mobile phone or mobile internet bills
TV licence.

ID and address checks vary by country. In some cases, we may limit which types of ID and address documents are accepted.

Open account online Open in new window

Opening an Office of Care and Protection account in branch

Here's what you need to know

Before you visit

No appointment needed.
The account holder (patient) does not need to come with you.
The branch can register your OCP as long as you bring the right documents.

What to bring

The original Office of Care and Protection Order or a certified copy.
An acceptable form of identification.
Proof of address.

Both the identification and proof of address must match the details on the Office of Care and Protection Order.

Proof of identity we accept when applying in branch

Valid passport
Driving licence (UK, EU/EEA, ROI)
EU/EEA national ID card
NI electoral office ID card
Military ID card
eVisa

If you don’t have any of the documents listed above, we can accept these instead

Benefits letter from the Department for Work & Pensions (DWP), Jobcentre Plus or Universal Credit.
The letter:
must be dated within the last 12 months and show the benefit is still valid
must be dated within the last 3 months if it doesn’t confirm ongoing benefit
can only be used if not already used as proof of address.
NI electoral office ID Card
OAP / Concessionary travel pass (only accepted with certain address documents)
HMRC letter: notice of tax coding for previous or current tax year, or national insurance confirmation letter.

Proof of address we accept when applying in branch

Bank statement - if using a NatWest Group statement, must be different from brand you're applying for -dated within last 6 months.
Council tax bill - dated within last 12 months.
Utility bill/statement - dated within last 6 months.
Mortgage statement/Solicitor mortgage correspondence - dated within last 12 months.
Local council/ Housing authority tenancy agreement.
Credit Union statement - dated within last 6 months.
Full UK driving licence - if not being used for proof of identity.
UK provisional driving licence - if not being used for proof of identity.
HMRC letter - notice of tax code or national insurance confirmation letter.

If you don’t have any of the documents listed above, we can accept a benefits letter from the Department for Work & Pensions (DWP), Jobcentre Plus or Universal Credit.

The letter:

must be dated within the last 12 months and show that the benefit is still valid
must be dated within the last 3 months, if it does not confirm ongoing benefit, it
can only be used if it is not already being used as proof of identity.

See more details on proof of identification and proof of address on our Caring for someone vulnerable page.

Find a branch near you

Use our Branch locator to find your nearest branch.

Closing an account with an Office of Care and Protection order

Choose how you’d like to close the account. You can close it online or by sending a letter.

Follow these three steps

Step 1: Complete the eForm

Fill in the Office of Care and Protection account closing eForm.

Step 2: Email us your documents

Send us a full copy of Office of Care and Protection order to us at Courtofprotection@natwest.com.

Please include either:

the patient’s sort code and account number, or
their full name and date of birth.

If this information is missing, we won’t be able to process your request.

File rules:

Images must be 5MB or less
Save documents as PDF

Step 3: Confirm your identity

Once we've reviewed your documents, we’ll send you an email or text from our trusted security partner, Mitek.

Use the link in the Mitek email or text to upload your ID.

It will guide you to:

take a selfie,
upload photo ID,
upload proof of address (if needed).

Once we’ve confirmed your identity and received all your documents, we’ll process your application within three working days.

Close an Office of Care and Protection account by letter

What to send

Signed letter by controller or controllers if appointed jointly
The original Office of Care and Protection order or a certified copy.
The bank account details for where you’d like us to send the remaining funds
(account name, sort code and account number).

Where to send

Ulster Bank Everyday Banking Operations

11-16 Donegall Square East

Belfast

BT1 5UB

Close online today Open in new window

What is an Office of Care and Protection Order?

If there is no Power of Attorney in place and you need to manage someone’s wider financial and/or personal welfare affairs, an application can be made to the Office of Care and Protection (OCP), for you, or someone else to be appointed as a ‘controller’. The court decides if the person nominated is suitable, and if successful, the OCP Order provides the controller with a range of powers which can be used to benefit the patient.

Controllers are usually people with an existing relationship to the protected person such as a family member or close friend, but people acting in a professional capacity such as solicitors or local authorities can also be made attorneys. To learn more about controllership orders or to apply to be a controller, visit the GOV.NI page using the button below.

Learn more Open in new window

What can you do as a controller?

Whilst the court makes the overall decision on what a controller can and cannot do the table below gives an idea of actions a controller can take once registered with us. In the case of multiple controllers it is possible to have more than one controller added to an account but it must be made clear whether they will act 'jointly' or 'joint and severally'.

A controller can

Have a debit card or Anytime Banking for the account(s) if several controllers are acting joint and severally.
Close accounts that are no longer needed.
Open new accounts on behalf of the patient if the instructions in the Office of Care and Protection Order allow this.
Manage the patients mortgage, including applying for a new mortgage or changing the rates.

Information Message

A controller cannot

Have a debit card or Anytime Banking for the account(s) if several controllers are acting jointly
Apply for certain forms of borrowing, for example loans or overdrafts on behalf of the account holder.
Act outside the terms set out by the Office of Care and Protection office.
Change ownership of the account or add new parties to the account.

Information Message

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take for a Office of Care & Protection order to be added to an account?

An Office of Care and Protection Order will be added within 10 working days once we have received your documents. We’ll let you know when you’ve been added to the account.

Sometimes we need to complete extra checks, which may take longer.

What happens to a Travel Account when a controller is added to the linked Current Account?

If a Travel Account is linked to a Current Account held by the patient it will be closed when the controller is added, and any EUR funds will be moved back to the Current Account.

Funds returned to the Current Account will be based on the live bank exchange rate.

Once I am added to an account as a controller, how do I register for Anytime Banking?

To register for Anytime Banking, please visit our Anytime Banking page. You’ll need the sort code and account number of the account you’ve been added to, or your debit card.

Organisations offering additional support

Make the most of extra support available to help you care for someone vulnerable. There are several organisations who could help with additional support.

NHS Social care and support guide Open in new window

Government services and benefits for carers Open in new window

Citizens Advice Open in new window