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 \u2013 but she says she could barely afford to pay her energy bills <\/a>even before another rise.<\/p>\n Ms Westworth, who is married and has two sons and 10 grandchildren, said: \u201cI just try to put extra layers on and keep as warm as I can<\/a> and only put the heating on when I desperately need it.<\/p>\n \u201cThe energy price cap rise is another nail in the coffin for pensioners <\/a>like me who are struggling anyway.<\/p>\n \u201cIt feels like this Government <\/a>has really got it in for pensioners.\u201d<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n The typical British household will pay an annual bill of \u00a31,755 \u2013 an increase of \u00a335, the energy watchdog announced.<\/p>\n 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<\/a> and a small amount of the personal independence payment (PIP).<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Ms Westworth said: \u201cI am in a lot of pain at the moment and can hardly walk because of the arthritis in my knees. But I can\u2019t have an operation as it is too dangerous for me to have general anaesthetic with my asthma and I don\u2019t want to have surgery while awake.<\/p>\n![\"Muriel](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/SEI_245030076.jpg\")
Ms Westworth struggles with her mobility due to health conditions including arthritis and asthma <\/p>\n