‘I can’t afford to keep my heating on overnight – Reeves’ Budget doesn’t do enough for pensioners’

“It’s not enough,” pensioner Elaine Yates said when asked about Rachel Reeves’ pledge to increase the state pension in her second Budget.

The 75-year-old will be one of 13 million pensioners who will benefit from an above-inflation increase next April and will receive around £575 a year, or around £10 a week.

But for the retried factory chief, who lives on his own and survives on a state pension, more help is needed, especially with paying rising energy bills.

Even though Mrs Yates is in line for her Winter Fuel Payment Independent He cannot afford to heat his bungalow throughout the night.

“I turn off the heating from 21.30 in the evening until the morning,” he said. “I wake up cold, sometimes shivering, which is a cut I have to make because I can’t afford to keep the house warm with prices rising so much.

“The extra money coming in from the pension every week isn’t enough to cover this.”

Also as part of the budget released Wednesday, Ms. Reeves change in energy taxes This would save the average household £150 a year.

But Ms Yates, whose husband Michael dies in 2022, said any additional financial support would quickly run out due to the cost of living.

It also fears that with the freeze on income tax thresholds being extended until 2030, it could be liable for income tax, which currently has an annual personal tax allowance of £12,570.

“I go shopping at the supermarket and buy food and a few essentials for my pets, but I quickly realize I don’t have enough food for more so I go to the checkout,” she said.

“I only eat two meals a day, mostly soup or toast. It’s really hard, especially going through this alone.”

Ms Yates also said she could no longer afford pet insurance for her 13-year-old dog.

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“If something were to happen, I would be faced with the difficult decision of taking him down,” he said. “Everything is so expensive today.”

Charity Age UK issued a statement in response to Ms Reeves’ budget, which included tax increases that would bring £26bn to the Treasury.

Director Caroline Abrahams welcomed the increase in the state pension but said she feared many pensioners, including those on low and modest incomes, would be “drifted” into paying income tax.

He added: “When we look at the overall impact of all these measures in the round, we take the view that the government needs to do more to help with energy costs – which will still be higher in 2024 than they were when they came to power.”