Sam Royston, Executive Director of Policy and Research at Marie Curie, said:
"Upon review of the government's green paper on benefits, we're concerned that the proposals barely mention the urgent and unique needs of people with terminal illness, many of whom rely on the social security system to support them in their final months, weeks, and days.
"A terminal illness often means significant financial strain: with loss of income and rising costs creating instability when security is much needed. In fact, Marie Curie research shows that under the current benefits system, 111,000 people are dying in poverty each year in the UK, with working-age people at significantly higher risk.
"Yet the proposed changes to Universal Credit could mean terminally ill people making a claim for benefit after April 2026 get £2,000 a year less. We urgently need clarity on how terminally ill people will be protected -- including those who either could not or did not make a claim through the Special Rules for Terminal Illness.*
"Dying people should be able to focus on what really matters at the end of life – not worry about their finances. We urge government to set out plans to provide comprehensive protections for all terminally ill people at the earliest opportunity."