Shopping for someone else: carer cards and safe ways to pay
Last checked November 2026. Offers and rules change: confirm with the provider before you rely on them.
The safest way to shop for another person is with an arrangement set up for the purpose, such as a carer's card from their bank, a supermarket gift card or a third-party mandate. Never share a main bank card and PIN, because doing so breaks the bank's terms and can leave the account holder without protection if money goes missing.
Why not simply hand over the card and PIN?
It is the commonest arrangement and the riskiest. A bank's terms require the customer to keep their PIN secret. If the card is misused, lost or copied, the bank may refuse a refund because the PIN was shared. It also puts the helper in an awkward position, with full access to the account and no record of what was agreed. Every option below avoids that problem.
Options for everyday shopping
| Option | How it works | Suits |
|---|---|---|
| Carer's card or trusted-person card | A second card on the person's own account with its own PIN and a spending limit, given to a helper | A regular helper: family, friend or paid carer |
| Supermarket gift card or volunteer shopping card | A card loaded with a set amount, used only at that retailer | Neighbours and volunteers; occasional help |
| Online order placed by a relative | A family member orders on the internet for delivery to the person's home | Family living at a distance |
| Cash and receipts | The helper is given cash, or pays and is repaid, with a receipt every time | Small, occasional shops |
Carer's cards
Several banks and building societies offer a card designed for exactly this, under names such as carer's card, companion card or trusted-person card. In general the account holder asks for it, the helper receives a separate card and PIN, and the account holder keeps control: there is normally a limit on how much the card holds or can spend, and it can be cancelled at any time. Features differ between banks, and not every bank offers one, so ask your own bank what it provides. MoneyHelper has an impartial guide to carer's card accounts on its website.
Supermarket gift cards and volunteer cards
Most supermarkets sell gift cards or e-gift cards, which the person you are helping, or a relative, can buy and top up, by phone or online in many cases. Some supermarkets have offered cards aimed specifically at volunteers shopping for others. The helper pays with the card and has no access to anyone's bank account. If the card is lost, only its balance is at risk. Ask at the customer service desk or look on the supermarket's website for what is available now.
Ordering online for someone else
A relative can set up a supermarket account in their own name with the other person's address for delivery, and pay on their own card. Agree the list by phone, and add a note for the driver if the person is slow to reach the door. See supermarket home delivery and click and collect.
Cash and receipts
For a pint of milk and a loaf, cash is fine. Keep it businesslike all the same: a written list, a receipt and the change back every time. A notebook with dates and amounts protects both of you from misunderstandings.
Help with banking: the third-party mandate
A third-party mandate is a written instruction to a bank or building society allowing a named person to operate a particular account for you. You fill in the bank's form, usually with both people providing identification.
- It covers only the account or accounts named, with that one provider.
- What the other person can do, and whether they get a card or online access, depends on the bank.
- You can cancel it whenever you wish.
- It relies on you being able to make your own decisions. If you lose the mental capacity to manage your affairs, a mandate generally stops being valid. That is the job of a power of attorney.
A joint account is another route some families consider, but it makes the money legally shared, which has consequences for benefits, care costs and inheritance. Get impartial guidance from MoneyHelper, Citizens Advice or Age UK before opening one.
Lasting power of attorney: the basics
A lasting power of attorney (LPA) is a legal document in which you (the "donor") appoint one or more people you trust (your "attorneys") to make decisions for you. In England and Wales there are two types:
- Property and financial affairs – covering things like bank accounts, bills, pension and selling a home. With your permission it can be used as soon as it is registered.
- Health and welfare – covering care and medical decisions. It can only be used when you can no longer make those decisions yourself.
You must be 18 or over and have mental capacity when you make an LPA, which is why it has to be arranged in good time. It must be registered with the Office of the Public Guardian before it can be used. At the time of writing (November 2026), gov.uk gives the registration fee as £92 for each LPA, with reductions or exemptions for people on low incomes or certain benefits, and says registration takes around 8 to 10 weeks if there are no mistakes in the application. You can make one online or on paper through the official gov.uk power of attorney service.
Scotland and Northern Ireland have different systems. Scotland has continuing and welfare powers of attorney, registered with the Office of the Public Guardian (Scotland). Northern Ireland uses the enduring power of attorney. The gov.uk page links to the guidance for each nation.
If you are the one doing the shopping
- Keep the other person's money and receipts separate from your own.
- Ask what they want rather than deciding for them, including brands and treats.
- Check whether you qualify for support yourself: see discounts for carers and the benefits checklist, and if the person needs help with daily living, read about Attendance Allowance.
- If you buy larger items for them online, the consumer rights belong to whoever made the purchase; see returns and refunds.
Common questions
Is it illegal to use someone else's bank card with their permission?
It is not a crime if they have genuinely agreed, but it breaks the bank's terms and conditions, and the account holder may lose their right to a refund if anything goes wrong. A carer's card avoids the problem.
Does a third-party mandate carry on if the person develops dementia?
Generally not. A mandate depends on the account holder having mental capacity. A registered lasting power of attorney is designed to continue.
Can I set up a power of attorney for my parent?
No. Your parent has to make it themselves while they have the mental capacity to do so. You can help with the forms.
What if someone can no longer make decisions and has no power of attorney?
In England and Wales, a relative may need to apply to the Court of Protection to become a deputy, which takes longer and costs more. Other parts of the UK have their own procedures. Citizens Advice and Age UK can explain the options.