AA can be awarded, and special rules applied, in respect of people who are terminally ill. Section 66 (1) of the Contributions and Benefits Act refers to entitlement “for the remainder of his life”. This can give the mistaken impression that entitlement under the special rules for people who are terminally ill can never be changed, even if their prognosis improves. The definition of “terminally ill” is in section 66(2)(a), and this Act does not seek to change it.
Subsection (2) amends sections 66(1)(a) and (b) of the Act to make it clear that entitlement to AA under the special rules for terminally ill people only applies during the period in which a person is classed as “terminally ill”. Section 67 of this Act makes a similar amendment to awards of DLA “for life”.
Commentary Commentary Attendance Allowance for the terminally ill