Who can apply for disability benefits under Special Rules for Terminal Illness
Anyone in Scotland diagnosed with a terminal illness by their healthcare professional can apply for disability benefits under Special Rules for Terminal Illness.
You can still apply even if you:
- are already receiving Adult Disability Payment or Child Disability Payment from Social Security Scotland. You should contact Social Security Scotland as soon as possible to let them know your circumstances have changed
- have previously had an application for disability benefits under special rules for end of life rejected by the Department for Work and Pensions
If you currently receive Personal Independence Payment and become terminally ill, call the Department for Work and Pensions to let them know.
Your benefit will be moved to Social Security Scotland as quickly as possible.
Who can complete an application for disability benefits under Special Rules for Terminal Illness
Anyone can complete an application for disability benefits under Special Rules for Terminal Illness.
You may wish to do it yourself, but you can always ask someone to help you or to complete it on your behalf. For example, you can ask:
- a friend or relative
- a social worker
- a representative from an advice or welfare rights organisation
- someone with parental rights and responsibilities for a terminally ill child (for Child Disability Payment)
Someone applying for disability benefits on your behalf must let you know, and they must have your consent.
Once they submit an application on your behalf, they will not hear from us again. You, your parent, guardian or legal representative will be the point of contact for all correspondence.
Third party representatives
A third party representative is a person or organisation that can help you with your application for disability benefits under Special Rules for Terminal Illness.
A third party representative can:
- support you in making an application
- ask how an application is going
- make phone calls
- receive copies of Social Security Scotland notifications
- ask for an explanation of your entitlement and how it was decided
- help with a redetermination or appeal
You must let us know if you choose to have a third party representative act on your behalf. You can do this over the phone on 0800 182 2222 or in writing by downloading a third party authorisation form.
Send the form to:
Social Security Scotland
General Enquiries
PO Box 10301
Dundee
DD1 9FY
Appointees
An appointee is a person aged over 16 or an organisation nominated to deal with Social Security Scotland on behalf of someone who is terminally ill.
A person receiving Child Disability Payment under Special Rules for Terminal Illness might need an appointee to legally act on their behalf if they’re not living with or being cared for by someone with parental rights and responsibilities.
A person receiving Adult Disability Payment under Special Rules for Terminal Illness might need an appointee to legally act on their behalf if they cannot make or communicate decisions because of a mental or physical health condition.
An appointee will be responsible for:
- applying for all the person’s Social Security Scotland awards
- answering mail, emails and phone calls about these awards
- reporting relevant changes of circumstances
- receiving the person’s payments and spending them on their wants and needs
- repaying any overpayments
- following any instructions or guidance issued by Social Security Scotland
An appointee can be nominated:
- as part of an application for Adult Disability Payment or Child Disability Payment
- by phone, on 0800 182 2222
- by writing to:
Social Security Scotland
General Enquiries
PO Box 10301
Dundee
DD1 9FY
Applications to become an appointee cannot be made online.
Carer Support Payment applications under Special Rules for Terminal Illness
If a family member or friend cares for you, they may be able to apply for Carer Support Payment under Special Rules for Terminal Illness.
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