USEFUL REFERENCE LATE APPLICATIONS - Serious medical condition or significant medical treatment

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If someone had a serious medical condition or was undergoing significant medical treatment in the months before the deadline, that will normally constitute reasonable grounds to make a late application.

A serious medical condition could include:

• An illness (including COVID-19) or accident which meant that the person was hospitalised or bedbound during the time preceding the deadline
• An illness (including COVID-19) or accident which otherwise meant that the person was unable to perform day-to-day tasks during the in the time preceding the deadline
• Pregnancy or maternity may be a reason to make a late application in cases where a woman has a difficult birth or where the baby needs medical treatment.

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Evidence of a serious medical condition or significant medical treatment may include:

• a letter from a doctor or other health professional confirming the circumstances
• a letter from a carer, legal representative or other appropriate third party confirming the circumstances

Having a serious medical condition or undergoing significant medical treatment at the time of the deadline will also normally constitute reasonable grounds for a late application in respect of a child or other dependent family member who was reliant on the person to make an application on their behalf.

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Examples from page 35 of the EUSS Guidance

Example 1

G is an EEA citizen who has been resident in the UK since 2018. G makes an application to the EU Settlement Scheme in July 2021 and provides a letter from his GP explaining that he was hospitalised in February and March 2021 due to COVID19 and was then recovering at home for several weeks. These are reasonable grounds for G missing the deadline applicable to him and now making a late application to the scheme.

Example 2

H is an EEA citizen who has been resident in the UK since 2014. In February 2021, she had an accident while rock-climbing and suffered a broken leg and hip. She was hospitalised for several weeks and then recovered at home, but she continued to have mobility problems which affected her ability to perform day-to-day tasks. H makes an application to the EU Settlement Scheme in August 2021 and provides a letter from her GP explaining the circumstances. These are reasonable grounds for H missing the deadline applicable to her and now making a late application to the scheme.