Closed petition Remove the six-month rule for benefit claims made by terminally ill people

Closed on 3 March 2021

The Government should remove the six-month rule for benefit claims made by terminally ill people. This has already happened in Scotland, but while it has been raised in the House of Commons the rule is still in place in England and Wales.

Terminally ill people have more concerning issues to focus on and should not have to constantly worry about finances and benefit claims. I have a terminally ill spouse and understand the impact this can have on finances. The current rule unfairly prevents people who are terminally ill but whose doctors can’t or won’t certify that they may die within six months from being treated as terminally ill when claiming benefits.