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State Retirement Pensions: Terminal Illnesses

Asked by David ChadwickLiberal DemocratDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled Answered 1 December 2025UIN 94412

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make it his policy to guarantee working-age people with a terminal illness a State Pension-level of income.

Answered by Sir Stephen Timms

We have no such policy. Supporting people nearing the end of their life is important to the Government. The main way the Department does this is through the Special Rules for End of Life (SREL) which enable people who are nearing the end of their lives to get faster, easier access to Personal Independence Payment, Employment and Support Allowance, Universal Credit and Attendance Allowance.

The Department is committed to ensure that eligible claimants at the end of life have their claims processed as quickly as possible. Latest figures show that in Great Britain, new claims to PIP under the Special Rules are being cleared in 3 working days on average.

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