A rule change from the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) today will enable struggling claimants who are in desperate need of financial assistance to crucially access benefits in a speedier fashion. The change means that people in their final year of life can receive Universal Credit and Employment and Support Allowance six months earlier than the prior timeframe.
Announcing the changes are now in place, the DWP confirmed that as of today that special regulations with regards to 'End of Life' have seen a major revamp. Previously, those with medical evidence showing that they were in their final six months of life were able to claim both benefits, but the new ruling doubles this time period to 12 months.
Those eligible will also no longer be subject to an in-person assessment, and the majority of cases will receive the highest rate of benefit available - Birmingham Live reports.
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Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work, Chloe Smith MP, said: "Helping more people in the final year of their life get faster access to vital financial support is the right thing to do. I hope by extending this support it will alleviate the financial concerns of those nearing the end of their life and their families in the most challenging of times.”
National Clinical Director for End of Life Care at NHS England, Professor Bee Wee said: "I am really pleased to see this change which will enable earlier and faster access to financial support for people who are likely to be in their last year of life. This additional support is of such vital importance to many people, and those important to them, during this difficult time."
Marie Curie Chief Executive, Matthew Reed, added: "We are delighted to see this important change come into force today for Universal Credit and ESA claimants, following years of campaigning. This will help ensure more dying people can concentrate on making the most of the limited time they have left, rather than worrying about their finances.
"Marie Curie look forward to continuing to work with the Department for Work and Pensions to communicate this important change and ensure everyone now eligible gets the support they need quickly and efficiently."
The CEO of the Motor Neurone Disease Association, Sally Light, also commented,: "I am pleased that as of today long fought-for changes to the Special Rules for Terminal Illness will come into effect for Employment and Support Allowance and Universal Credit. We now hope that more people living with complex and unpredictable terminal illnesses like motor neurone disease will be able to access the support they need via those benefits swiftly and sensitively."
A person who makes a new claim for Universal Credit under the Special Rules for End of Life (SREL) could receive an additional £354.28 per month for having limited capability for work and work-related activity from day one of their claim. If eligible for New Style ESA, a person making a new claim could receive the highest rate of benefit of £117.60 per week from day one of their claim to support them in the last months of their life.
Clinicians still have discretion under the updated rules and will be supported by "a realistic and straightforward definition, which aligns with current NHS practice", the DWP added. The changes to SREL will later be extended to Personal Independence Payment, Disability Living Allowance and Attendance Allowance as soon as Parliamentary time allows, the Government said.
The rule change comes after an earlier update that exempts people who are terminally ill from the requirement to accept a claimant commitment to be eligible for benefits. A claimant commitment is a set of conditions a person agrees to follow in order to get their state payments.
An individual's responsibilities vary according to their circumstances. For those able to work, it can include the requirement to look for a job.
There had previously been no general rule preventing a person from being asked to agree to strict conditions on their payments when they were in their final months or years of life. A blanket exemption has now been put in place and came into effect on February 15, 2022.
