Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of reviewing the effectiveness of the Special Rules for End of Life fast-tracking benefits system.

The primary way the Department supports people nearing the end of life is through special benefit rules which are known as the Special Rules for End of Life (SREL). These enable people who are nearing the end of their lives to get faster, easier access to certain benefits, without needing to attend a medical assessment or serve waiting periods and in most cases, receive the highest rate of benefit.

The system is kept under review to ensure it is meeting its objectives.

The Government is committed to ensuring that the fast-tracked access to benefits via SREL is maintained, while actively exploring how we can continue to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the delivery of the current system.