Debate contribution: State Pension Access: Terminally Ill People
Debate contribution by Mr Colm Gildernew on .
- MLA
- Mr Colm Gildernew
- Party at the time
- Sinn Féin
- Date
- 31 March 2025
- Type
- Debate contribution
- Business
- Private Members' Business
- Heading
- State Pension Access: Terminally Ill People
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 4872129
Read the official Assembly record
Text
I start by thanking everyone who has contributed to the debate today and has indicated support for our motion. I also thank Marie Curie, who have been in the Building today, for raising the issue with us and for the fantastic work that they do in supporting families through terminal illnesses. I worked closely with Marie Curie during its campaign on benefits, some of which the Minister outlined. Receiving a terminal diagnosis is one of the most difficult things that any person can go through. It creates huge strain and worry not only for the individuals but for their families. People with terminal illnesses, in the knowledge that their time is limited, will often seek to make the most of the time that they have left by spending it doing things that they enjoy and with the people whom they love.
Inevitably, though, people with a terminal illness will also think about what their passing is going to mean for the friends, family and loved ones whom they are leaving behind.
As we know, the death of a loved one can place a huge financial strain on a family, particularly if the person who has passed on was the chief breadwinner. It is clear that people who are ill have significant additional costs that can cover any amount of issues. Some of that has been touched on already. As political activists, we should always seek to do the right thing for families who are struggling to come to terms with the trauma of a terminal illness. That includes ensuring that they have the comfort of financial security. It is humane and just that those facing such circumstances be given the right to access their pension early, thus ensuring that they have dignity, comfort and peace of mind in their final days. By allowing early pension access, we offer individuals the ability to cover essential medical costs, secure quality end-of-life care and support their family financially. It should also be remembered that, often, people who are at end of life have not reached pension age and still have a mortgage. That can be an additional worry and expense. To allow people with a terminal illness to make the most of their remaining time, be that through fulfilling a lifelong dream, creating lasting memories with loved ones or simply ensuring that their affairs are in order, we should ensure that they have access to their own money. This is not about financial generosity; it is about respecting an individual's right to access their own money and make their own choices at the end of their life. Other countries, such as France and Germany, have already recognised that need and have implemented policies that allow terminally ill individuals to access their pensions without unnecessary obstacles. While pensions are technically a devolved matter, we appreciate that it is an area where the convention is that parity with other jurisdictions is maintained. Therefore, the motion is directed at the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions and asks her to consider changing the law, and asks our Minister to facilitate the change locally. People who are facing terminal illness deserve the right to access their own hard-earned pensions when they need them most. We have heard from Sian and Kellie about some of the real, practical impacts that people face at such a time, and Colin Crawford mentioned the fact that people are often forced to navigate difficult financial systems. I welcome the Minister's commitment to stand with people and to engage with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions to see what can be done in this respect. Let us stand for dignity, humanity and the right to live one's final days without unnecessary financial distress.
623 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Assessment
Jev’s structured answers met the documented threshold for “not qualifying”.
- Overall probability that the activity is being used to promote, exploit or escalate an identity-based controversy: 0.02 (qualifying needs at least 0.70; at or below 0.30 is not qualifying).
- None of the five culture-war criteria was met (each was below 0.60).
- Assessed as legitimate policy scrutiny (0.96).
- No identity-based framing was identified (1.00).
- Subject area: Disability (including neurodivergence and mental health), disabled people and disability or sickness benefits.
- The overall probability was at or below the not-qualifying threshold.
This is an AI-generated assessment of the text, made against published criteria. It is not a finding of fact about the MLA or their intentions. The Assembly record itself is the fact.
Jev’s structured answers
| Question | Probability | Met? |
|---|---|---|
| Identity framing | 0.03 | No |
| Sectarian or communal antagonism | 0.01 | No |
| Cultural grievance politics | 0.01 | No |
| Dog-whistle messaging | 0.01 | No |
| Controversy escalation | 0.02 | No |
| Legitimate policy scrutiny | 0.96 | Yes |
| Overall judgement | 0.02 | At or below not-qualifying threshold |
| Option | Probability |
|---|---|
| No identity-based framing (chosen) | 1.00 |
| Reports or questions it | 0.00 |
| Criticises or condemns it | 0.00 |
| Adopts it | 0.00 |
| Subject | Probability |
|---|---|
| Disability (including neurodivergence and mental health), disabled people and disability or sickness benefits | 0.96 |
| No identity-related subject | 0.03 |
| Sexism, misogyny, ageism and other equality groups | 0.01 |
| Flags, emblems, symbols, names and memorials | 0.00 |
| Parades, bonfires and commemorations | 0.00 |
Assessed 21 October 2026 at 12:16 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.
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