This guidance is for clinicians who have a patient with a terminal illness and need to complete a Benefits Assessment for Special Rules in Scotland (BASRiS) form on their behalf. The BASRiS form is supporting information for Social Security Scotland to make a decision for disability assistance.
The BASRiS form will replace the DS1500 for Scotland's new forms of Disability Assistance.
| Children | Which form to use |
|---|---|
| For all children living in Scotland aged 0 to 16 years | Complete a BASRiS form and return it to Social Security Scotland |
| Adults (16 – State Pension Age) | Which form to use |
|---|---|
| Adults not in receipt of PIP | Complete a BASRiS form and return it to Social Security Scotland |
| Adults in receipt of PIP (for Scottish-based recipients only) | Complete a DS1500 or BASRiS form and return to DWP |
| Adults in receipt of DLA who were born after 08 April 1948 (for Scottish-based recipients only) | Complete a DS1500 or BASRiS form and return to DWP |
| Adults in receipt of DLA who were born before 08 April 1948 (for Scottish-based recipients only) | Continue to use a DS1500 and return to DWP |
| Adults over state pension age | Which form to use |
|---|---|
| For all adults over state pension age | Continue to use a DS1500 and return to DWP. |
During the transition period, if you send a form to the wrong department, it will be transferred to the correct department. Social Security Scotland works in partnership with the Department for Work and Pensions in England and Wales, and the Department for Communities in Northern Ireland.
The BASRiS form is supporting information for Social Security Scotland to make a decision for a disability assistance award under Special Rules.
The DS1500 form is the equivalent form used by the Department for Work and Pensions in England, Wales and Department for Communities in Northern Ireland.
The BASRiS form will replace the DS1500 for Scotland's new forms of Disability Assistance.
A parent or guardian can apply for Child Disability Payment under Special Rules for Terminal Illness when their child has been diagnosed with a terminal illness.
Adults or Client Representatives can apply for Adult Disability Payment under Special Rules on behalf of the person who has been diagnosed with a terminal illness.
In support of the application, they will need the healthcare professional to provide the terminal illness diagnosis to Social Security Scotland using the BASRiS form. They can request this, or they can ask Social Security Scotland to do this on their behalf.
Applications made under Special Rules are handled by specially trained staff and prioritised above regular applications for disability assistance.
If you have access to the NHS network, you can complete a BASRiS web form. If you do not have access to the NHS network you should use an editable PDF BASRiS form or a paper BASRiS form.
A new version of the BASRiS form was released on 15 December 2022.
The new form states that the date to be provided is the date the clinical judgement of terminal illness was made. This is not necessarily the date the BASRiS form was completed and signed.
Please ensure you use the most up to date form, and destroy any old forms you have.
If you require a stock of updated paper BASRiS forms, you can order these by emailing: Glasgow.mailroom@socialsecurity.gov.scot
If you are using an NHS device you can complete an online BASRiS.
If you are unable to access the webform, you can complete a paper BASRiS form or download an editable PDF BASRiS form and submit this by email.
You must refer to the Chief Medical Officer's guidance when you're completing the BASRiS form. It details how you need to explain and give evidence of your clinical diagnosis so that the form is completed correctly.
View the Chief Medical Officer's guidance
View frequently asked questions
A new version of the BASRiS form was released on 15 December 2022. Please ensure you use the most up to date form.
The new form states that the date to be provided is the date the clinical judgement of terminal Illness was made. You should complete the BASRiS as soon as you make the clinical judgement, but if you complete it on a later date, you must put the date on which you diagnosed the terminal illness.
Independent GP contractors and private GPs, as well as GPs and registered nurses employed by the independent contractor and private GP practices, can submit a claim on behalf of the GP practice. A registered medical practitioner or registered nurse who is employed by a third sector organisation (for example a charity) can submit a claim on behalf of that organisation.
Details of when a fee can be claimed by other medical staff are contained in the Terms and Conditions for Medical Staff in Scotland.
The clinician must complete and return the BASRiS form and the BASRiS Fee form to be able to claim a fee.
You can only claim a fee for a BASRiS form that has been submitted to Social Security Scotland along with the BASRiS Fee form.
You cannot claim for a verbal confirmation of the patient’s diagnosis over the phone.
You cannot claim a fee from Social Security Scotland for completing a DS1500 form.