Move to ensure faster benefits for the dying

Charities have welcomed the removal of a time limit on fasttrack benefit payments for the terminally ill.

Last night the Scottish Government announced the move after it was raised with Nicola Sturgeon at First Minister’s Questions on Thursday.

A planned amendment to limit fast-track access to benefits for only patients with six months to live will no longer form part of the Social Security (Scotland) Bill.

Social security minister Jeane Freeman has put forward a new amendment to ensure it will be down to the clinical judgment of medics to identify when a person is terminally ill.

The patient will then be fasttracked to the highest rate of disability benefits when they are devolved to the Scottish Parliament.

Richard Meade, Marie Curie’s head of policy in Scotland, said: “We are delighted that the minister has listened to ours and other’s concerns and made this possible.”

Labour’s Mark Griffin described the move as a “victory” for campaigners.