Communities Minister calls for early state pension access for terminally ill

Communities Minister Gordon Lyons has called on the UK Government to implement urgent reform allowing individuals diagnosed with a terminal illness to access their state pension early, describing the move as “compassionate and practical.”

In a letter to Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) Minister Torsten Bell MP, Minister Lyons stressed the importance of decisive action, stating that such a policy would “ensure financial security and dignity for people in their final months”.

The proposal, spearheaded by end-of-life charity Marie Curie, suggests allowing terminally ill individuals to receive their state pension early, based on their National Insurance contributions, with payments topped up to at least the level of Pension Credit.

Marie Curie’s Dying in Poverty campaign reveals stark statistics behind the push for reform. The charity estimates that around 111,000 people in the UK die in poverty each year, with more than one-in-four of working age experiencing financial hardship during their final year of life.

Minister Lyons said:

“It is imperative that we do more to ensure financial security and dignity for people in their final months of life and I am urging Minister Bell to take decisive action on this issue.

“A terminal diagnosis should not be accompanied by the added burden of financial hardship but, unfortunately, this is the stark – and unacceptable – reality for too many.”

He added:

“Marie Curie’s compassionate and practical solution would allow terminally ill individuals to access the state pension early, providing much-needed financial stability and some peace of mind during the most difficult of times.”

Although pensions are a devolved matter in Northern Ireland, policies are generally aligned with those in Great Britain. On 31 March 2025, the Northern Ireland Assembly unanimously backed a Private Members’ Motion calling for legislative changes that would allow early pension access for the terminally ill.

Minister Lyons reaffirmed his commitment to lobbying the UK Government and working with the DWP on behalf of those facing terminal diagnoses.

“I am urging the UK Government to act swiftly and compassionately to deliver meaningful change on early access to state pensions,” he said.

“No-one should be facing their final months with the added burden of financial distress and I will continue to press for a fair and compassionate system that meets the needs of those who are most vulnerable.”

The call comes amid increasing public and political momentum behind Marie Curie’s campaign, which highlights the intersection of health, poverty, and end-of-life dignity – a challenge the Minister says the UK can no longer ignore.

For more information about the Dying in Poverty campaign, visit Marie Curie’s official website.