More than 10,000 terminally ill people dying in poverty every year, charity says

More than 10,000 terminally ill people are dying in poverty in Scotland every year, according to a report produced by a leading end-of-life charity.

Marie Curie Scotland estimates 10,400 terminally ill people die in poverty each year, which its says equates to one in four working age people and one in six pensioners – an increase from one in eight pensioners five years ago.

Glasgow City has the largest proportion of working age and pension age people dying in end-of-life poverty in Scotland, according to the report.

Marie Curie Scotland also estimates one in five terminally ill people are dying in fuel poverty in their last year of life, the majority of whom are living in social rented housing.

Their report, Dying In Poverty 2024, also states working age people with dependent children are at greater risk of poverty at the end of their life, including 40% of working age single parents who are usually women.

The charity is calling on both the UK and Scottish governments to take action to reduce the financial burden facing terminally ill people.

Ellie Wagstaff, senior policy manager at Marie Curie Scotland, said: “Too many people in Scotland are dying in poverty. And to see that one in six pensioners is now affected, compared to one in eight in 2019, is simply unacceptable.

“No one should have to face their final years, months or days, worrying about money or whether they can afford to heat their home. Whichever way you cut it, terminally ill people are at greater risk of poverty.

“Action from both Scottish and UK Governments is urgently needed to reduce the financial burden that is currently on terminally ill people’s shoulders. They are carrying enough.

“Scottish Government has the powers to automatically qualify terminally ill people for the Winter Heating Payment, and the Scottish Child Payment for terminally ill parents with dependent children under 16. These must be prioritised in the upcoming Scottish Budget.

“Longer term, Scottish Government must implement a right to palliative care which would consider all terminally ill people’s needs, including their financial needs, to ensure income does not prevent each person from having an end of life experience that’s important to them.

“Almost 55,000 people across the UK, including in Scotland, could be lifted out of fuel poverty at the end of life if a social tariff was introduced. UK and Scottish Governments must take the necessary steps to implement this as quickly as possible, terminally ill people do not have time to wait.”

The charity is also calling on the UK and Scottish Governments, as well as employers, to take action to eliminate gender inequality.

Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said: “We support the delivery of the highest standards of palliative care and we will give this report and its recommendations careful consideration.

“Our palliative care strategy, currently out for public consultation, aims to ensure that people can access well-coordinated, timely and high-quality palliative care, care around dying, and bereavement support based on what matters to them.

“We have urged the UK Government to introduce a social tariff mechanism which could benefit terminally ill people who are struggling with their energy bills.

“We have established a working group which will aim to design a social tariff that would enjoy cross-sector support and demonstrate the viability of the policy.”

A UK Government spokesperson said: “No one should suffer financial hardship because of a health condition – that’s why rules are in place to ensure those nearing the end of life can claim the support they deserve in a timely manner.

“Alongside this, we are uprating benefits and the state pension while over one million households are set to be lifted out of fuel poverty through the biggest potential boost to home energy standards in history.”