Muriel Westworth, 73, says she is already struggling to afford her bills and is dreading winter with the cost of energy set to rise
A grandmother who is already struggling to afford her bills has described her dismay at the energy price cap rise and says she is now dreading winter.
Muriel Westworth, 73, who lives in Preston, Lancashire, told The i Paper her health conditions including arthritis, asthma and lymphedema mean it is important to keep warm – but she says she could barely afford to pay her energy bills even before another rise.
Ms Westworth, who is married and has two sons and 10 grandchildren, said: “I just try to put extra layers on and keep as warm as I can and only put the heating on when I desperately need it.
“The energy price cap rise is another nail in the coffin for pensioners like me who are struggling anyway.
“It feels like this Government has really got it in for pensioners.”
Ms Westworth struggles with her mobility due to health conditions including arthritis and asthma
A larger than expected increase in the energy price cap from October is largely due to higher costs being imposed by the Government, to fund measures such as the expansion of the warm home discount.
The price most households pay for gas and electricity will rise by 2 per cent on average from 1 October after energy regulator Ofgem has announced its updated energy price cap today.
The typical British household will pay an annual bill of £1,755 – an increase of £35, the energy watchdog announced.
Ms Westworth worked from the age of 15 until past retirement age at 67, but she never had a private pension so is now trying to survive on the state pension and a small amount of the personal independence payment (PIP).
She says trying to survive financially can be very challenging and she has even resorted to pulling out her own teeth in the past to avoid dental charges. She usually only eats one meal a day and says they do not have any luxuries and have not been abroad for at least 10 years.
Ms Westworth said: “I am in a lot of pain at the moment and can hardly walk because of the arthritis in my knees. But I can’t have an operation as it is too dangerous for me to have general anaesthetic with my asthma and I don’t want to have surgery while awake.
“It is terrible news to hear energy bills are going to go up from October as with my health conditions, I need to keep warm.
“We have a card and a key for our gas and electric and top the card up when it is needed. But in winter, that can be a lot and it makes life very difficult. But now energy bills will be going up, it will make things even harder.
“Gas and electricity is already so expensive so I can’t imagine how we will afford it when it goes up again. We are too scared to put the heating on as it is.
“It is scary what they are doing to us pensioners. I already can’t afford my bills.”