The BEST Foundation recently met with the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) as part of our ongoing relationship, to discuss key updates and developments within the organisation. Topics included policy design and service improvements.
Policy Design
The OPG is currently working through the policy design of the MPLA update, with a focus on how this will look ahead of testing. One of the points raised was future private beta testing, which will involve a minimal viable product to test the key components of the new system. The current aim is to begin private beta testing in Spring 2025, with ongoing updates and collaboration with stakeholders, including us here at BEST. The purpose of private beta testing is to identify what works and what doesn’t, and it will serve as an important tool for testing these newly created policies.
Service Improvements and Issues
There has been significant progress in reducing application processing times, with official updates showing a reduction from 20 weeks to 16 weeks. While this is a notable improvement, the OPG acknowledges that processing times are still not at the desired level. The OPG requests that where possible, applicants wait at least 16 weeks before inquiring about their applications. The OPG are still prioritising urgent applications however, for example when an application highlights a critical factor such as terminal illness.
Other Updates
Live Event Verification (LEV): The OPG confirmed that they are still receiving death certificates, although this is normally no longer necessary under the Live Event Verification system. Applicants can now simply email the OPG to inform them of the death. You may find the following blog helpful:
Guidance on Gifting: The OPG has updated its guidance around gifting, specifically relating to the PN7 form. You can find out more about this here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/giving-gifts?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=govuk-notifications-topic&utm_source=ffe3a308-f50a-4a89-90a4-f13c2f8b5c9a&utm_content=immediately
Access Codes: Questions have been raised about the functionality of old access codes with the OPG’s new system. It was confirmed that all access codes should work together across both the old and new systems. Access codes remain valid for 30 days.
The meeting between the BEST Foundation and the OPG was productive, highlighting both the progress made and the challenges that remain. With ongoing improvements to processing times and a focus on reducing errors, the OPG remain committed to refining its services. Both parties are looking forward to continued collaboration as these developments unfold and we are grateful for the opportunity to keep lines of communication open between our organisations.
