Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, (a) how many people have been assessed at a PIP assessment as having a progressive and life-limiting condition who do not qualify for Special Rules, (b) are in receipt of a fixed-term award, and (c) what is the length of these fixed-term awards.

Special Rules for End of Life exists to ensure that there is timely support for claimants reaching the end of their life. These claimants will receive faster, easier payments of PIP (among other benefits) and will receive the highest rate of benefit payment. The Department regards a PIP claimant as nearing the end of life if they suffer from a progressive disease and the person’s death in consequence of that disease can reasonably be expected within 12 months based on a clinical diagnosis. There is no change to their benefit entitlement should the claimant live longer than these 12 months.

It is not possible to provide a definitive estimate of the number of claimants who have any progressive or life-limiting condition but do not meet the above criteria for Special Rules. This is because, unless a claimant is submitting evidence of eligibility for Special Rules, the department only collects information on the health conditions of claimants, not their severity or whether they are life-limiting and progressive.