Monthly Archives: December 2014

New online Carer’s Allowance application system

The new online Carer’s Allowance application system has launched today, replacing an “outdated” and “difficult to complete” online system, the government has announced.

02.12.14

The new system for England, Scotland and Wales has been developed by the Government Digital Service and the Department for Work and Pensions, aimed at simplifying the process for busy carers and “built around the needs of the users”. The government says that one of the many improvements for applicants is a new way of verifying that the person they care for understands the claim – removing the need for them to sign a paper declaration.

Early trials show most people claiming the allowance (54%) are using the updated online process instead of asking for a form to be posted to them. More than 125,000 digital claims have been submitted since trials began in October 2013, with a user satisfaction rate of 90%.

Low palliative care use across Wales highlighted

Elderly people with cancer were less likely to get palliative care than younger ones

Less than half of people who died from cancer and only 5% of those dying from other conditions received specialist palliative care, a report has found.

The Marie Curie charity and the Bevan Foundation looked at figures from 2012, which also showed one in four hospital beds were used by patients in their last year of life in Wales

Older terminally ill people were much less likely to have palliative care.