SR1 and BASRiS for Dementia: Fast-Track Attendance Allowance Under Terminal Illness Rules

When dementia reaches an advanced stage — particularly when the person is receiving end-of-life care, has been assessed as being in the final phase of the illness, or has other life-limiting conditions alongside dementia — faster benefit routes exist. The SR1 form (England, Wales, Northern Ireland) and BASRiS (Scotland) bypass the normal qualifying period and award the higher rate of Attendance Allowance or PADP immediately.

What SR1 Means

SR1 stands for Special Rules for End of Life. A doctor or specialist completes Form SR1 to support the claim. The SR1 is sent to the DWP (or DfC in Northern Ireland) as medical information for the AA1 claim; it can be sent separately from the claim form.

Under SR1 rules:

• The six-month qualifying period is waived
• The higher rate (£114.60 per week in 2026/27) is awarded automatically
• Attendance Allowance is usually paid every four weeks; the claim date determines when entitlement can start
• The claim is processed faster than standard applications

The 12-month prognosis does not have to be certain. The medical professional certifies that it is reasonably expected, not guaranteed. If the person lives longer than 12 months, the award continues — it is not taken away.

When SR1 Applies to Dementia

Dementia on its own does not usually lead to an SR1 certification in the early or middle stages, because the 12-month prognosis test is a clinical judgement about life expectancy. However, SR1 may apply when:

• The person has advanced dementia with very limited awareness, minimal eating and drinking, and is bedbound or largely immobile
• Dementia is combined with another life-limiting condition (terminal cancer, advanced heart failure, end-stage COPD)
• The person is receiving palliative care or has been placed on a palliative care register

If the person's doctor or specialist believes death may reasonably be expected within 12 months, they can complete the SR1 form. The person or their representative can ask them to support a claim under the special rules.

BASRiS in Scotland

Scotland uses Benefits Assessment under Special Rules in Scotland (BASRiS) instead of SR1. The key difference is that BASRiS uses clinical judgement with no fixed life-expectancy time limit. A registered medical practitioner or registered nurse certifies that the person has a terminal illness, without needing to state that death is expected within any specific number of months.

Under BASRiS:

• The six-month qualifying period is waived
• The higher rate (£114.60 per week) is awarded automatically
• Social Security Scotland aims to process the decision within about seven working days after receiving the application and any further information it needs
• Payments are made weekly in advance (unlike the standard four-weekly cycle)

This broader definition means BASRiS can apply to advanced dementia cases where the English SR1 12-month test might not be met. If the person's dementia is advanced and their medical team considers it terminal, the BASRiS route is worth discussing with the GP.

How to Use SR1/BASRiS

You do not apply for SR1 or BASRiS separately. The process works alongside the normal claim:

1. Start the Attendance Allowance or PADP application as normal
2. Ask an eligible healthcare professional to complete the relevant form: for an SR1, a consultant, GP, hospice doctor, senior specialist nurse, or specialty doctor; for BASRiS in Scotland, a doctor or nurse registered with the GMC or NMC who is involved in the person's care or diagnosis
3. The professional may send the completed form directly to the relevant department or give it to the person or their representative to send, depending on the form
4. Mark the relevant section on the claim form to indicate that a terminal illness applies

For a DWP claim, send the AA1 form even if the SR1 has not arrived yet; the doctor or specialist can send the SR1 later.

Someone else can make an Attendance Allowance claim under the special rules on the person's behalf, even without their knowledge or permission. In Scotland, another person can apply for PADP on the person's behalf under the special rules. The health professional's SR1 or BASRiS report supports the benefit claim; it is not a separate benefit application.

If the Standard Route Is Already Underway

If you have already submitted a standard Attendance Allowance claim and the person's condition deteriorates, you can still request SR1/BASRiS at any point. Contact the DWP (or Social Security Scotland) to explain the change in circumstances and ask the medical team to complete the relevant form. The claim will be reassessed under the terminal illness rules and, if successful, upgraded to the higher rate with the qualifying period waived.

For comprehensive guidance on standard dementia claims — including the care and supervision tests, evidence gathering, and linked benefits — see our dementia claim guide.

See more United Kingdom guides →