Working-age adults face the greatest risk. Those aged 20–64 are over 12 percentage points more likely to die in poverty than pensioners, with the likelihood rising sharply in the final year of life.
Poverty risk for working-age people in Wales, the West Midlands and the North-West is among the highest in the UK.
CRSP’s analysis showed that deep structural inequalities shape end-of-life poverty. Black and Asian adults are more than twice as likely to die in poverty as white adults.
People dying of non-cancer illnesses—such as organ failure or progressive neurological conditions—also experience significantly higher poverty rates, reflecting reduced access to palliative care and financial advice.
Writing in the report, lead author, Dr Juliet Stone, said: “If the Labour Government is serious about improving living standards as one of its central goals, then any plans must consider the varied needs of different sections of the population, including those with a terminal illness.
“While making sure that any reform to disability benefits is fair and equitable is crucial, it is clear that, particularly for those of working age, this is only part of the picture.
“We need a benefits system that provides enough income for people to have a decent and dignified standard of living, while allowing them to die without the added stress of financial hardship.”
New indicators of financial insecurity highlighted the severity of hardship. More than 23,000 people died in deep poverty (below 50% of the poverty line), while 86,000 experienced material deprivation – unable to afford essentials such as appliance repairs, warm clothing or adequate heating.
Around 162,000 people were below the Minimum Income Standard (MIS), meaning they could not maintain a socially acceptable standard of living at the end of life.
Fuel poverty is widespread too. Some 120,000 people who died last year were unable to afford adequate heating or the electricity required to run vital medical equipment.
The risk is highest among people using electric heating and those living in Northern Ireland, the North-East and London.
Co-author, Dr Elaine Robinson, said: “Those who heat their homes with electricity are more likely to experience fuel poverty at the end of life, than those who use gas.
In the short term, improved income support is needed for working-age people, who lose earnings as illness progresses and rely on Universal Credit for most of their income in the last year of life.
As more households switch to electricity for heating, the energy efficiency of housing needs to be upgraded to protect those who become terminally ill in future from the increased risk of fuel poverty.”
Bosses at Marie Curie have urged the public to sign a petition insisting the UK Government makes actionable changes to address the crisis.
Matthew Reed, the charity’s Chief Executive, said: “It is heartbreaking to think of people like Chase and his family, already facing unimaginable pain, being forced to worry about basic needs and financial worries in their most vulnerable moments.
“Social tariffs on energy bills, council tax relief and equity in end of life benefits are not just policy choices—they are a lifeline for dying people and their families.
“We urge political leaders and policymakers to consider these actionable and realistic policy recommendations so dying people no longer have to spend their precious final months in cold homes, facing spiralling bills and impossible decisions.
“Nobody should die in poverty. Every person deserves comfort and dignity at the end of their life.”