Football pundit Chris Kamara will deliver a petition calling for people dying of a terminal illness to be able to access their pension early following the death of his mother.
The 65-year-old presenter and representatives of Marie Curie will hand a petition containing 165,000 signatures to Downing Street on Thursday that asks for the system to allow for working-age people to claim their state pension if they are dying.
Kamara’s mother, Irene, was cared for by the charity’s nurses in her final days in 2003 after she was diagnosed with breast cancer and he has worked with Marie Curie previously on campaigns.
When asked about the petition on Good Morning Britain (GMB) on Thursday, he said: “People shouldn’t be allowed to die in poverty – 90,000 people die in poverty (every year), so that’s 10 an hour, the capacity of Wembley Stadium when you take it as a whole. So that’s got to stop.
“Once you’re diagnosed with a terminal illness you’ve not got long left, you have to stop your job, your circumstances change, you’re devastated, so social security money isn’t enough, so access (to) the state pension (is needed).”
Kamara was asked about the difference receiving a pension that people have paid into would make for those with a terminal illness who will die before they are of an age to get it.
He said: “I’m going to Downing Street with two ladies whose circumstances have completely changed, they’ve been diagnosed with terminal illness and their partners have had to give up work to look after them.
“They just haven’t got any money. Their life has changed completely out of all proportion.”
He added: “(Terminally ill patients are) not getting enough money to help them get by so they have their pension, they worked hard. If you worked hard for 35/45 years of your life, you’ve got three or four years until you’re 66.
“Why not access your pension that you’re never (going to) get?”
According to research by the University of Loughborough, published in January, a change to pension rules for terminally ill patients would cost the Government £114.4 million per year.
Ninja Warrior presenter Kamara has previously spoken out about his difficulties with the speech disorder apraxia, and was asked about his condition on GMB.
He said: “I’m OK. I’ve got inflammation on my brain. So that’s the reason why I have good days and bad days…Today’s better, so much better.
“So what I’m doing is a gluten-free diet, dairy-free diet. I’m trying anything, alternative medicine, all these vitamins to try and see if it helps.”
The Department for Work and Pensions has been asked for a response.
