This content is intended for a professional services audience. Please ensure you seek relevant professional advice before making any legal, financial or tax decisions.

In August 2026 we commissioned a survey of more than 500 Independent Financial Advisers (IFAs), financial planners and solicitors, revealing a worrying knowledge gap. 

Around a third of financial and legal professionals surveyed have ‘no idea’ about how to financially protect people with a learning disability and lack confidence in how to advise clients who want to leave inheritance to a loved one with a learning disability.

Mencap Trust Company Professional Adviser Research 2026

34%

of advisers had ‘no idea’ how to financially protect people with a learning disability, despite... 

87%

saying they had received relevant training.

68%  

failed to correctly identify when a specialist trust was the best option

75% 

did not fully understand what a learning disability was*

Why is direct inheritance a problem for people with a learning disability?

If people leave a large inheritance ‘outright’ to someone with a learning disability who is on means-tested benefits, it could result in them being stripped of their vital state benefits and leave them highly vulnerable to financial abuse. 

Mencap estimates that the number of adults with a learning disability in England who will at some point inherit enough money to affect a means-tested benefit is 147,000.1 

David Raeburn, Director of Mencap Trust Company

David Raeburn, Director of Mencap Trust Company

Every day we hear heartbreaking stories of families who wanted to leave an inheritance to improve someone's life, only for that money to be put at risk because it wasn't protected by a trust

Five things every adviser should consider in estate planning

Five things every adviser should consider in estate planning

  1. Consider the risks of leaving money directly
  2. Potential risks of an informal arrangement
  3. Think beyond tax planning
  4. Consider whether a trust could provide better protection
  5. Know when specialist support can add value

Adviser considerations when estate planning

Nearly all of those surveyed (99%) said they wanted to learn more about the issue, so we produced a guide to bridge the knowledge gap. 
 

Download guide  
Carol and David sitting at a kitchen table

Why did Mencap Trust Company commission the Professional Adviser Research 2026?

Mencap Trust Company is a specialist, not-for-profit trustee service established by The Royal Mencap Society to set up trusts for people with a learning disability and autism. 

We commissioned this research to shine a light on the lack of understanding which is leaving people with a learning disability at risk of losing their vital means-tested state benefits and exposing them to potential financial abuse. 

Mencap Trust Company can provide support by: 

  • Acting as a sole trustee, removing the need for family members to take on long-term trustee responsibilities 
  • Combining specialist trustee expertise with an understanding of the needs and circumstances of people with a learning disability or autism 
  • Providing ongoing beneficiary support shaped around the person’s communication needs, relationships, routines and aspirations 

We have been trusted for over 50 years to provide support to families when needed the most.

Why considered advice is important

Sadly we hear lots of examples from families where they didn't get the advice they needed.  Mencap estimates 147,000 people with a learning disability could be at risk of losing means-tested benefits after receiving an inheritance1. 

If you don't feel confident about advising a family to leave an inheritance for someone with a learning disability or autism please register your interest for further training. 

Register  
Nick and Stacy sitting on a sofa talking

Family resources

We always want to ensure that people with a learning disability are at the heart of everything we do. 

If you think one of your clients could benefit from a Discretionary or Disabled Person's Trust from a specialist provider like Mencap Trust Company, please make use of our family resources. 

Our family resources include easy read guides, making it clearer to the person with a learning disability how they'll be supported. 

Go to resources

Mencap Trust Company Professional Adviser Research 2026

The research was Commissioned by Mencap Trust Company and conducted by Censuswide, among a sample of 501 independent financial advisors, solicitors (217 IFAs, 84 Financial planners, 200 solicitors). Minimum of 50 respondents from England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The data was collected between 05.08.2026 - 13.08.2026. The survey explored advisers’ confidence, understanding and likely recommendations when supporting inheritance planning for people with a learning disability or autism. Censuswide is a member of the Market Research Society (MRS) and the British Polling Council (BPC), and a signatory of the Global Data Quality Pledge. We adhere to the MRS Code of Conduct and ESOMAR principles.

*75% of respondents selected an incorrect response when asked to specify if they think any of the following statements are true or false about someone with a learning disability:

  • People with dyspraxia and dyslexia have a learning disability (FALSE)
  • People with autism and ADHD have a learning disability (FALSE)
  • A learning disability is when someone has a reduced intellectual ability that makes  everyday activities challenging such as household tasks, socialising or managing money (TRUE)
  • A learning disability is a mental illness (FALSE)
  • The amount of support someone with a learning disability needs varies – some may need a little additional support, others may need to be fully supported in all areas of their life, including communicating, personal care, and staying safe. (TRUE)

1 Modelling by Mencap in September 2026 estimates that the number of adults with a learning disability in England who will at some point inherit enough money to affect a means-tested benefit is 147,000. A figure for the whole of the UK is not available.

Disclaimer 
This content is intended for a professional services audience. Mencap Trust Company does not provide legal, financial or tax advice, and nothing in this communication constitutes advice. Please ensure you seek relevant professional advice before making any legal, financial or tax decisions. Advice should always be based on the specific circumstances of the client, beneficiary and proposed trust arrangement. Relevant legislation, tax rules, benefits guidance and professional standards should be checked at the time advice is given.