Overview

This bill amends existing social security legislation to extend the eligibility criteria for certain benefits to individuals with a life expectancy of 12 months or less, instead of the current 6-month limit. This change aims to provide earlier access to crucial support for terminally ill individuals and their families.

Description

The Social Security (Special Rules for End of Life) Bill modifies three key pieces of legislation:

• Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992: Changes the definition of "terminally ill" for attendance allowance and disability living allowance, extending the eligibility period from 6 to 12 months.
• Welfare Reform Act 2012: Similarly, extends the "terminally ill" definition for personal independence payment from 6 to 12 months.
• Universal Credit, Personal Independence Payment, Jobseeker’s Allowance and Employment and Support Allowance (Decisions and Appeals) Regulations 2013: Updates the definition of "terminally ill" to reflect the 12-month timeframe across these benefits.

The bill applies to England, Wales, and Scotland and will come into effect on a date determined by the Secretary of State.

Government Spending

The bill is explicitly stated not to impose any new charges on the public or alter existing financial provisions related to social security benefits. Therefore, the impact on government spending is not directly specified in the text of the bill, though it is likely to increase spending due to the extension of benefit eligibility.

Groups Affected

The bill primarily affects:

• Terminally ill individuals: Those with a life expectancy of between 6 and 12 months will now be eligible for certain social security benefits.
• Families of terminally ill individuals: They will benefit from the increased financial support provided to their loved ones.
• Healthcare professionals: They may see changes in the way they assess eligibility for social security benefits for their patients.
• Department for Work and Pensions (DWP): The DWP will be responsible for implementing the changes to the social security system.

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