Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice
Shirley-Anne Somerville MSP
scottish.ministers@gov.scot
Sam Ghibaldan
Chief Executive, Consumer Scotland
18 March 2026
TERMINAL ILLNESS ENERGY SUPPORT
Dear Sam,
Thank you for your letter of 12 March 2026 outlining Consumer Scotland’s proposals to provide additional support with energy bills through social security to terminally ill people in Scotland.
The Scottish Government recognises of course the importance of ensuring terminally ill people are provided with the support to which they are entitled as quickly and straightforwardly as possible. In contrast to the rest of the UK, we ensure terminally ill people have dedicated fast-track access to the highest possible payments, and up to 26 weeks of award backdating.
Importantly, under our system, the Scottish definition of terminal illness relies on the judgement of clinicians instead of a fixed life expectancy. Additionally, three forms of winter heating support are available from Social Security Scotland, all of which can provide financial support across Scotland
to terminally ill people who are eligible.
Yours sincerely,
SHIRLEY-ANNE SOMERVILLE