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Terminal Patients

Volume 448: debated on Wednesday 12 July 2006

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what mechanisms exist to prompt healthcare professionals to discuss special rules claims for (a) disability living allowance and (b) attendance allowance with (i) patients with a terminal disease and (ii) carers of patients with a terminal diagnosis. (81076)

It would not be appropriate for healthcare professionals to advise people about claiming benefits to which they might be entitled.

The Government recognise that finance is an issue of great importance to people with serious illness. Departmental officials are working with those in the Department for Work and Pensions, which has the expertise and knowledge to inform people about arrangements for claiming benefits and their entitlement to different benefits, to take steps for patients to be signposted to benefits information.