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 known as 'whitelist'.
Under the special rules, you can apply for disability assistance on behalf of a person if they, or their legal representative, 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 (RMP) or registered nurse (RN) from an approved domain name/email address on the approved 'allow list’, for example '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 allow 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: adults aged 16 to state pension age who have been diagnosed as terminally ill and who live in Scotland should apply under Special Rules.
Pension Age Disability Payment: people of state pension age who have been diagnosed as terminally ill and who live in Scotland should apply under Special Rules. As this benefit is being launched over time in Scotland, when someone can apply depends on where they live.
Applications will be open to every area in Scotland from 22 April 2025. Find out more about when someone can apply for Pension Age Disability Payment.
If applications for Pension Age Disability Payment are not open in a specific area, terminally ill people can still apply for Attendance Allowance from the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP). An SR1 form should be completed and returned to DWP to support the application.
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.
If a person is unsure if they’ve been diagnosed as terminally ill, they should be signposted to discuss this with their clinician.
Check if the person requires a BASRiS form here: When to complete a BASRiS SR1 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 either:
Please do not delay making an application.
Disability Awards made under the special rules can be backdated to a maximum of 26 weeks before the date of application.
The Special Rules for Terminal Illness application process is fast-tracked and we’ll write to the person with the outcome.
If the person is unaware of their terminal condition, this is captured on the BASRiS form. Social Security Scotland will not mention this in any communication with the person.