Terminally ill Universal Credit and ESA claimants to be made exempt from benefit rules from next month
dailyrecord.co.ukThe UK Government has announced terminally ill benefits claimants across the UK will not have to demonstrate that they are taking measures such as looking for work in order to receive financial support from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).Chloe Smith, minister for disabled people, health and work, said people with terminal illnesses will not have to agree to take certain steps in exchange for receiving benefits.
This is known as a ‘claimant commitment’, and could include an individual agreeing to look for work, increase their earnings or report any change in their circumstances.
Currently anyone claiming benefits under the Special Rules for Terminal Illness is exempt from needing to search for work, but there is no blanket exemption for terminally ill people to accept a claimant commitment more generally.
Ms Smith said the DWP is introducing an amendment to existing regulations "to streamline the process and provide certainty to those approaching the end of their lives".This will come into force on February 15 across the UK.Ms Smith also said the UK Government will "shortly" bring forward regulations extending the special rules to more terminally ill claimants.
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