Thousands still dying in poverty in Wales, says leading end of life charity Marie Curie

One in six people in Wales are still dying in poverty, according to leading end of life charity Marie Curie which is calling for better support for people in their last 12 months of life.

According to Marie Curie Cymru's new Dying in Poverty in Wales report, last year 17 per cent of people who died in Wales were living in poverty at the time. This equated to 6,100 people. The research was carried out by Dr Juliet Stone and Dr Elaine Robinson at the Centre for Research in Social Policy at Loughborough University.

People of working age were more likely to die in poverty than those of pension age.

The stark figures show the proportion of working age people in poverty in Wales in their last year of life has increased since 2023 - from 30 per cent to 32 per cent - the highest of any nation of the UK. People in Blaenau Gwent, Cardiff and Newport were at the highest risk of dying in poverty.

Almost one in four (23 per cent) – died in fuel poverty, a number that remained unchanged from 2023, with those living in Blaenau Gwent, Merthyr Tydfil and Neath Port Talbot at the highest risk of fuel poverty in their last 12 months of life.

Marie Curie Cymru is calling on the Welsh Government to act now to tackle poverty at the end of life. The charity has recommended that the Welsh Government include people living with a terminal illness in the council tax reduction scheme and introduce additional financial support for people living with a terminal illness to help with energy costs.

Poverty at the end of life is among a number of issues that Marie Curie Cymru raises in its manifesto ahead of the 2026 Senedd election, which calls for the transformation of an end-of-life care system which they say is on the verge of collapse.

Natasha Davies, Senior Policy Manager at Marie Curie Cymru, said: "It's simply unacceptable that so many people are still dying in poverty in Wales. This is not inevitable.

"Thousands of people can't make the most of the time they have left because of spiralling bills and constant worries about how to make ends meet.

"Policymakers, service providers and healthcare services must focus their attention on the financial hardship facing people with a terminal illness and those close to them, including family and carers.

"This must include action to ensure people access the support they are already entitled to. But must also address the insufficiency of current support, by expanding entitlement to a council tax reduction and offering additional support with energy costs.

"With the Senedd election in six months, we are calling on all political parties in Wales to commit to the action needed to tackle poverty at the end of life."

The charity is also calling for action by the UK Government to introduce a social energy tariff and ensure that the social security system offers sufficient support for people living with a terminal illness.

Marie Curie supports people with any illness they are likely to die from including Alzheimer's (and other forms of dementia), heart, liver, kidney and lung disease, motor neurone disease, Parkinson's, and advanced cancer.  The charity provides expert care and support in people's homes, in its hospices and over the phone via its free Information & Support helpline which is there for anyone who is affected by dying, death and bereavement.

To sign the Cost of Dying petition and keep up to date with Marie Curie Cymru's campaign for next year's Senedd election, visit mariecurie.org.uk/campaigns