Chief Medical Officer's guidance for clinicians completing a BASRiS form

The guidance is for clinicians who have a patient with a terminal illness.

It explains how to complete a Benefits Assessment under Special Rules in Scotland (BASRiS) form for the patient.

You must read the guidance from the Chief Medical Officer. It is a legal requirement to take the guidance into account when:

• reaching a clinical judgement of terminal illness
• completing the BASRiS form

The BASRiS form lets Social Security Scotland know that a person is terminally ill.

The BASRiS supplies Social Security Scotland with the only supporting information it will require for an applicant. The information is used to make a decision for a disability assistance award under the special rules.

The BASRiS form replaces the DWP forms, SR1 and DS1500.

You should send a BASRiS form to Social Security Scotland for:

• a child (age 0 to 16 years) applying under special rules for Child Disability Payment in Scotland
• an adult (age 16 years or over) applying under special rules for Adult Disability Payment in Scotland
• an adult of State Pension age and over applying under special rules for Pension Age Disability Payment
• an adult aged 18 years or over already getting Scottish Adult Disability Living Allowance (Scottish Adult DLA) and is newly diagnosed with a terminal illness
• a client with an existing award who needs to provide Social Security Scotland with confirmation of a terminal illness diagnosis

Pension Age Disability Payment

Pension Age Disability Payment has replaced Attendance Allowance in Scotland.

Anyone who gets Attendance Allowance in Scotland will have their award automatically transferred to Pension Age Disability Payment in 2025.

Find out more about Pension Age Disability Payment.

Attendance Allowance

For any clients still getting Attendance Allowance and are newly diagnosed with a terminal illness, you need to send DWP a BASRiS form.

If you do not have a BASRiS form, DWP will still accept any one of the following:

• SR1 form
  
• DS1500 form
  
• a letter confirming the client has a terminal illness

Find out more about Attendance Allowance moving to Pension Age Disability Payment for clients with a terminal illness.

Personal Independence Payment (PIP)

For adults living in Scotland who are terminally ill and in receipt of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) you should complete a BASRiS form and return it to DWP. They will process an expedited case transfer to Social Security Scotland.

Disability Living Allowance (DLA)

From 21 March 2025, a new Social Security Scotland benefit called Scottish Adult Disability Living Allowance (Scottish Adult DLA) is replacing DLA for all adults in Scotland. It will take until the end of 2025 to move everyone’s benefit across.

For any clients still getting DLA and who are newly diagnosed with a terminal illness, you need to send DWP a BASRiS form.

If you do not have a BASRiS form, DWP will still accept any one of the following:

• SR1 form
  
• DS1500 form
  
• a letter confirming the client has a terminal illness

Find out more about DLA moving to Scottish Adult DLA for clients with a terminal illness.

Request a BASRiS form

Get the latest BASRiS form.

When completing the BASRiS form, you must read the guidance from the Chief Medical Officer. It details how you need to explain and give evidence of your clinical judgement of terminal illness.

It is a legal requirement to take the guidance into account when:

• reaching a clinical judgement of terminal illness
• completing the BASRiS form

If you cannot find the answer you need in the Chief Medical Officer’s guidance or the frequently asked questions, you can call the Clinical Helpline.