Marie Curie responds to the Bill to extend provision of fast-track benefit applications to more dying people in Northern Ireland

A bill to extend provision of fast-track benefit applications to more dying people in Northern Ireland will be debated in the Assembly on Tuesday 7 December.

End of life care charity Marie Curie is urging Stormont parties to back the new law, which will make it easier for terminally ill people to access benefits.

The charity has campaigned for changes to the existing system for years and warned that time is running out to pass the new law before next year's Assembly election.

Craig Harrison, Policy Manager for Marie Curie Northern Ireland, said:

"Marie Curie is urging every MLA in the Assembly to support the speedy passage of this crucial bill. The legislation will provide fast-track welfare support to thousands of more dying people and cut away the red tape that is forcing so many to spend their final weeks and months fighting for the money they're entitled to. The existing system is entirely unfit for purpose and needs to change urgently.

"There is very little time left in the existing Assembly mandate, so this bill needs to proceed under accelerated passage. While many MLAs are rightly cautious about that procedure, we would plead with them to recognise the urgency of the situation and back the bill. Terminally ill people do not have the luxury of time and many are dying before seeing a penny of their benefits because of barriers within the existing system. That unacceptable outcome will continue the longer we wait for reform, so it is imperative that all parties come together and deliver this change for dying people as soon as possible."

ENDS

For more information contact Caroline McIlwain at caroline.mcilwain@mariecurie.org.uk or call 07809 585 990

Notes to editor

People living with terminal illnesses can apply for fast-track access to Personal Independence Payments, Universal Credit, Employment and Support Allowance and Attendance Allowance under a legal mechanism called the Special Rules for Terminal Illness (SRTI) – but only if they can provide evidence that they have a life expectancy of 6 months or less.

Marie Curie has campaigned for the six month life expectancy criterion to be scrapped as it results in many dying people with unpredictable conditions being excluded from making Special Rules benefit claims. Many terminal illnesses have an uncertain trajectory, so it is difficult for medical professionals to give them a definitive life expectancy of six months or less.

In June 2021 the Department for Communities announced that it would legislate to extend the life expectancy criteria under the Special Rules from 6 months to 12. The decision has been welcomed by campaigners like Marie Curie. See: https://www.communities-ni.gov.uk/news/communities-minister-hargey-extend-terminal-illness-provision-social-security-benefits.

The Department for Communities estimate that the bill will result in 1,010-1,840 more dying people accessing fast-track benefits every year in Northern Ireland – the equivalent, at the upper end, of an 89% increase on the current Special Rules caseload. See: https://www.communities-ni.gov.uk/sites/default/files/publications/communities/s75-social-security-terminal-illness-bill.pdf.