Urgent reform is needed to protect terminally ill people from a growing risk of fuel poverty, an expert has warned.
Dr Elaine Robinson, a research associate at Loughborough University’s Centre for Research in Social Policy, says that energy tariff reform, income support, and the climate-sensitive policies must be introduced.
According to research undertaken for charity Marie Curie’s 2024 report, Fuel Poverty at the End of Life, around 128,000 people a year suffer fuel poverty at the end of life. As the report points out, this group face unique and severe pressures.
Those who are terminally ill often need warmer homes for longer periods, have additional energy needs for medical equipment and laundry, and are at higher risk of health complications from both cold and excessive heat.
“The terminally ill don’t have time to wait for energy efficiency upgrades or to cut back on energy use,” Robinson said. “They need urgent reforms – social tariffs and proper income support – to ensure they can live and die with dignity.
“We need energy policy that puts the most vulnerable first. Supporting people at the end of life is not just about bills – it’s about dignity, compassion, and ensuring no one spends their final days in a cold or overheated home.”
In a new article, Fuel poverty risk at the end of life needs urgent attention, published in Nature Energy, Robinson highlights six critical actions for policymakers:
- Introduce a social energy tariff – Implement a 50% reduction in energy bills for people with a terminal diagnosis as an urgent policy measure
- Provide immediate income support – Ensure terminally ill working-age people receive an income equal to the State Pension, to help them cope with loss of earnings
- Adopt a new approach to fuel poverty at end of life – Move beyond housing efficiency measures and develop policies sensitive to the immediacy of terminally ill people’s energy needs
- Expand policy focus beyond winter heating – Recognise the growing risk of overheating due to climate change and include cooling needs in fuel poverty strategies
- Use income-focused and vulnerability-sensitive energy policy – Shift from “fix the house” solutions to putting the needs of the most vulnerable first, including both heating and income adequacy
- Continue long-term housing improvements – While short-term measures are urgent, investing in insulation and draught-proofing remains important as a preventative strategy for future cases
The research reveals that around one in seven people dying in fuel poverty in the UK are of working age, with many facing sudden income loss due to inability to work, and additional pressures on families and carers.
Current fuel poverty strategies, focused largely on long-term housing improvements, are failing to meet the immediate needs of this vulnerable group, the study says,
Given that, it urges government and energy providers to act swiftly by embedding these reforms into existing support packages, ensuring terminally ill people are prioritised in the UK’s response to fuel poverty.
Image credit: klevo/Shutterstock
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