A partnership project to support terminally ill people living in fuel poverty began in December 2022 and runs to March 2026, led by the gas distribution network SGN with Cadent, Northern Gas Networks and Wales & West Utilities as participating networks1. The project has an investment of £2,060,020 and a forecast social return on investment of £12.22 for every £1 spent1.
The partnership places dedicated Energy Support Officers within Marie Curie's Information and Support Line, and has trained Marie Curie nurses, clinical staff and volunteers to identify signs of fuel poverty and refer patients for support1. Since December 2022 it has supported 5,884 customers through the Energy Support Officers, carried out 15,685 benefits checks, and identified £2,905,781 in financial benefits, with benefits checks identifying an average of £185 per month in unclaimed benefits1. In the year from April 2024 to March 2025, the figures were 2,655 customers supported, 6,191 benefits checks and £1,394,775 in financial benefits identified1. The project reports 5,215 Priority Services Register conversations to date, of which 2,536 took place between April 2024 and March 20251.
The project cites Marie Curie research showing that a terminally ill person's energy bill can increase by as much as 75% over what they were paying before diagnosis, because of reliance on home medical devices such as ventilators and dialysis machines1. It also cites Marie Curie's 2024 "Dying in Poverty" report, based on research by Loughborough University, which found that at least 128,000 people die in fuel poverty each year, including 110,000 pensioners, and states that as many as 44,000 terminally ill pensioners lost their Winter Fuel Payment last winter1.
"In 2024 , Marie Curie's 'Dying in Poverty' report, based on research by Loughborough University, revealed a deeply concerning analysis of how many people are dying in fuel poverty, at least 128,000 each year."
On training and awareness, the project reports that 865 frontline Marie Curie nurses, clinical staff and volunteers were trained this year, taking the total to 1,595 since 20221. It reports over 188,000 views from social media activity, over 30,000 leaflets issued through Marie Curie charity shops, and 24,220 visitors to the energy advice pages on the Marie Curie website this year1.
| Measure | To date | April 2024 to March 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Priority Services Register conversations | 5,215 | 2,536 |
| Benefits checks | 15,685 | 6,191 |
| Financial benefits identified | £2,905,781 | £1,394,775 |
| Customers supported via Energy Support Officers | 5,884 | 2,655 |
Why it matters for households
For a household managing a terminal illness, energy use is not discretionary. Medical equipment such as ventilators and dialysis machines runs on electricity, and the project reports that bills can rise by as much as 75% after diagnosis, at a point when income is likely to have fallen1. That combination puts such households at disproportionate risk of fuel poverty, and the support described here works on the income side, through benefits checks and energy advice, as well as on awareness of the Priority Services Register, which networks use to identify customers who need extra help during power cuts. The project notes that many people are not registered on the register and are keen to sign up once it is explained, particularly those with medical equipment reliant on electricity1. The monthly data shows less seasonality than expected, which the project reads as fuel poverty remaining a year-round concern rather than a winter-only one1. Households in this position, and those advising older people on energy costs, can reach the service through Marie Curie's Information and Support Line1.
What happens next
The project is scheduled to run to March 20261. The project reports that it has identified delivery refinements, including bespoke resources for families when palliative care nurses visit overnight, and a quick guide for nurses on explaining the Priority Services Register when handing it over1. No further dated steps have been reported.