James has supported the successful campaign by the Motor Neurone Disease Association, Marie Curie and others for changes to the system to make it easier for terminally-ill people to claim benefits.
Since he was elected in December 2019, James has been approached by constituents raising concerns about the current rules and he has joined the Motor Neurone Disease All Party Group which is supporting the campaign. He has met family members who have described the additional stress that the current rules involve.
Currently the Special Rules for Terminal Illness which enable fast track access to claim benefits only apply if an individual has been given a diagnosis that they have a reasonable expectation of death within six months. Anyone with a longer prognosis or unpredictable illness such as Motor Neurone Disease is excluded. In July 2019 the government announced a review into the way terminally ill people are supported by the welfare system. James campaigned for the government to scrap the six month rule and make it easier for anyone with a terminal illness to get the benefits they need.
3 April 2023 - Thousands more people nearing the end of their lives now have fast-tracked access to financial support through the benefits system
- Legislation has now come into effect which means people who are thought to be in their final year of life are able to receive vital financial support through the ‘Special Rules’ six months earlier than they were previously. Those who are eligible are not required to attend a medical assessment, and in the majority of cases, they will receive the highest rate of benefits. This applies to Personal Independent Payment (PIP), Disability Living Allowance (DLA) and Attendance Allowance (AA). It follows the same changes that were put in place for Universal Credit (UC) and Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) in April 2022.
July 2021 - Government confirms it will reform the 6 month rule
- In response to the Scrap 6 Months campaign led by the charities, the Government has pledged to make it easier for people with a terminal illness to get fast-track access to financial support, including making it easier for clinicians to confirm eligibility. Crucially, it has said it will reform the rule which stipulated that people must prove they have six months or less to live before receiving fast-track access to the benefits many desperately need.
March 2020 - James calls for scrapping of 6 month rule
- James raised the issue at Department for Work and Pensions questions in Parliament saying 'My North West Norfolk constituents suffering terminal illness want to see the six month rule scrapped so will he continue to work with the Motor Neurone Disease Association, Marie Curie and others to find a solution that works for all of them?'
- In response, Justin Tomlinson MP, Minister for disabled people, health and work, confirmed that the rules would change, responding that 'The reason we commissioned this review was because the status quo has to change and we recognise that. I wish to pay tribute to the organisations who have been supporting a thorough review including MND, Marie Curie, Hospice UK, MacMillan, RCN, Sue Ryder, and NHS England.'
An all-party review carried out last year found that since 2013 at least 17,000 people have died waiting for the benefits they were rightfully due. It said those diagnosed with terminal illness should have fast-track access to benefits, to free them from worrying about their finances.
To read more, please follow this link: https://www.mndassociation.org/get-involved/campaigning/take-action/scrap-six-months/
