A major DWP rule change next month will see thousands of people with terminal illnesses given fast-tracked access to disability benefits such as Personal Independence Payment.
Previously, they could only get state support paid quickly if expected to die within six months. Campaigners fought the policy to be scrapped so that parents would not have to deal with financial worries in addition to their medical condition, saying that this was too little too late.
Last year, the Department for Work and Pensions agreed that people with a period of 12 months left to live would get the highest rate of benefits and quickly, but only if applying for Universal Credit or Employment and Support Allowance (ESA). New legislation which will come into effect in April will also fast-track payments for Personal Independent Payment (PIP), Disability Living Allowance (DLA) and Attendance Allowance, meaning thousands will be able to get vital cash approved months earlier, BirminghamLive reports.
