What assistance you’re entitled to under Special Rules for Terminal Illness

If you’re awarded benefits under Special Rules for Terminal Illness, you will receive the highest rate of benefits available.

This is a lifetime award, and it will only be reviewed if your circumstances change.

Adult Disability Payment applications under Special Rules for Terminal Illness

Adult Disability Payment has two parts:

• a daily living component
• a mobility component

It is available for new applicants aged between 16 and State Pension age. 

If you are awarded Adult Disability Payment under Special Rules for Terminal Illness:

• you'll automatically get the highest award for daily living
• you'll automatically get the highest rate for mobility
• your award will be ongoing without need for a review unless your circumstances change
• you'll receive Adult Disability Payment no matter how long you have been ill
• your award will start from the date Social Security Scotland receives your application (which included information about your terminal illness) or the date the clinical judgement of terminal illness was made, whichever is earliest
• we're able to back date the application to a maximum of 26 weeks, where the date of clinical judgement is earlier than the date of application

Child Disability Payment applications under Special Rules for Terminal Illness

Child Disability Payment has two parts:

• a care component
• a mobility component

Unlike the care part, the mobility part of Child Disability Payment is only available to children aged 3 and over. If your child receives the care part and becomes eligible for the mobility part, Social Security Scotland will add this to your payment automatically. You do not have to reapply.

If a child's awarded Child Disability Payment under Special Rules for Terminal Illness:

• they’ll automatically get the highest award for care
• they’ll automatically get the highest rate for mobility if they are 3 years old or over
• their award will be ongoing without need for a review unless their circumstances change
• they’ll receive Child Disability Payment no matter how long they have been ill
• we're able to back date the application to a maximum of 26 weeks, where the date of clinical judgement is earlier than the date of the application

Pension Age Disability Payment applications under Special Rules for Terminal Illness

Pension Age Disability Payment has a care component.

It is available for new applicants at State Pension age. 

If you’re awarded Pension Age Disability Payment under Special Rules for Terminal Illness:

• you'll automatically get the higher rate
• your award will be ongoing without need for a review unless your circumstances change
• you'll receive Pension Age Disability Payment no matter how long you have been ill for
• we are able to back date the application to a maximum of 26 weeks, where the date of clinical judgement is earlier than the date of the application

Carer Support Payment applications under Special Rules for Terminal Illness

Carer Support Payment is money to help you if you're a carer. It's replacing Carer's Allowance for carers in Scotland. Find out more about Carer Support Payment.

You can get Carer Support Payment under Special Rules for Terminal Illness if either:

• you already get a disability benefit under special rules due to terminal illness
• the person you care for already gets a disability benefit under special rules due to terminal illness

This applies if you or the person you care for get either of these benefits under Special Rules for Terminal Illness from Social Security Scotland:

• Adult Disability Payment
• Child Disability Payment
• Pension Age Disability Payment

There are other disability benefits you can get from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) or the Department of Communities in Northern Ireland, if you have a terminal illness. For these benefits it's called Special Rules for End of Life. You can also get Carer Support Payment under Special Rules for Terminal Illness if you or the person you care for get any of these benefits through Special Rules for End of Life:

• Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
• Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
• Attendance Allowance

Find out more about Special Rules for End of Life at GOV.UK.

When you apply for Carer Support Payment

Usually, you have to have lived in the Common Travel Area (UK, Ireland, Channel Islands, Isle of Man) for 26 of the past 52 weeks to get Carer Support Payment. But you do not have to meet this rule if you meet the criteria for getting Carer Support Payment under Special Rules for Terminal Illness. You may also be able to get Carer Support Payment more quickly.

Requesting weekly in advance payments of Carer Support Payment

Carer Support Payment is usually paid every 4 weeks for the previous 4 week period. But if you're awarded Carer Support Payment and you or the person you care for get a disability benefit under special rules because of terminal illness, you can request to be paid weekly in advance instead. This is to help you plan for any extra expenses. The amount of money you get will not change overall. If you already get Carer Support Payment and want to change to be paid weekly in advance, contact Social Security Scotland.

Impact of a successful application under Special Rules for Terminal Illness on your other benefits

If you’re already receiving Adult Disability Payment, Child Disability Payment or Pension Age Disability Payment, a successful application under Special Rules for Terminal Illness may enhance the support available to you.

A successful application under Special Rules for Terminal Illness will not affect any other benefits you may already be receiving.

You should contact Social Security Scotland as soon as possible to let us know if you think you’re eligible for benefits under Special Rules for Terminal Illness.

You can report a change of circumstances either: 

• online
• by phone, on 0800 182 2222

 Find out if you qualify for additional support.