This guidance is for third sector organisations, which include:
Use the guidance to support terminally ill people to apply for Disability Assistance under Special Rules for Terminal Illness.
The 'allow list' in this guidance was formerly know as 'whitelist'.
Under the special rules, you can apply for disability assistance on behalf of a person if they have given their consent. This can be done online by using Social Security Scotland’s digital portal.
You’ll be asked for the person’s details and to upload a copy of the paper BASRiS form if you have this.
Currently, you cannot send an editable PDF BASRiS form through the digital portal application channel. This should be emailed to Social Security Scotland by a registered medical practitioner or registered nurse from an approved domain name/email address on the approved 'allow list’ eg nhs.com.
You should set up a digital portal account using your own details. This means you’ll have secure access to the applications you make on behalf of other people.
Register or sign in to the digital portal
Once you’ve created an account, you can make multiple applications for different people.
You can save and access applications any time before they are sent to Social Security Scotland. These will show as a list with the name of the applicant.
You’ll be asked for a BASRiS form when applying.
You can either:
If you ask Social Security Scotland to get a BASRiS form, we’ll contact the registered medical practitioner or registered nurse named on the person’s application form.
You may also ask a registered medical practitioner or registered nurse to email an editable PDF BASRiS form directly to Social Security Scotland.
Only a registered medical practitioner/registered nurse can complete the BASRiS form.
The quickest way to submit a BASRiS form to Social Security Scotland is online via the web form.
A registered medical practitioner or registered nurse may also email an editable PDF BASRiS directly to Social Security Scotland if they are emailing from an approved domain name/email address on the approved whitelistallow list. The email address for submitting the BASRiS is on the form.
A paper copy of the BASRiS needs to be posted to Social Security Scotland. The postal address is on the form.
If we receive a BASRiS form and we’ve not received the person’s application, we’ll call the person listed on the form to help them apply. This may not always be the person who is terminally ill. In this call we’ll ask limited information to complete the application. This will not include information about their diagnosis as the person may not be aware of their terminal condition.
Child Disability Payment: children aged 0-16 who have been diagnosed as terminally ill and who live in Scotland should apply under Special Rules.
Adult Disability Payment: aadults aged 16 to state pension age who have been diagnosed as terminally ill and who live in Scotland should apply under Special Rules.
For adults of state pension age living in Scotland who are terminally ill and who may have less than 12 months to live, an SR1 form should be completed and returned to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to support an application for Attendance Allowance.
Pension Age Disability Payment will be delivered by Social Security Scotland from Autumn 2024 through a pilot and phased approach. Social Security Scotland will then accept new applications from individuals across all of Scotland in 2025.
Disability assistance applications are not means tested and do not impact a person’s savings.
A terminal illness diagnosis is the clinical judgement of the registered medical practitioner or registered nurse who completes the BASRiS form.
Check if the person requires a BASRiS form here: When to complete a BASRiS or a DS1500 form.
Once you submit the application via the portal, you’ll no longer have access to this.
To process an application, Social Security Scotland need a completed application form and:
Please do not delay making an application.
Disability Awards made under Special Rules are calculated at the earlier of the date of application or the date of the clinical judgement of terminal illness by the registered medical practitioner or registered nurse, subject to it not being earlier than 26 weeks if being calculated retrospectively.