Marie Curie Responds to New Energy Price Cap

"Terminally ill people could freeze to death this winter without further support. The need to stay warm to keep pain at bay, and power specialist medical equipment means that energy bills for some terminally ill people will be thousands of pounds higher than the average household. Many won't be able to afford this. With 30% of excess winter deaths attributable to cold, damp housing, this could cost lives.

"Our research shows that working age people are at a huge risk of falling into poverty after a terminal diagnosis. They often have to give up work. They don't qualify for their State Pension. They cannot claim Winter Fuel Payments and do not automatically qualify for the Warm Home Discount scheme either. Dying people are falling through the cracks. They need targeted government support now."

Matthew Reed, Chief Executive, Marie Curie