Roger Cliffe-Thompson is one of millions of pensioners in the UK struggling through a harsh winter. A former high school teacher, Roger continues to work supporting people with dementia at a nursing home in Merseyside. The state pension is insufficient for living costs, forcing him to work to pay a mortgage that extends until he is 99 years old.
Despite his additional income, Roger calculates every penny. He tries to keep energy costs at one pound per day, but recent cold spells have doubled this figure.
"At night, I only dare to turn on my electric blanket, which costs about 3 pence an hour. During the day, the heaters are almost completely off," the 82-year-old said. To save water, he installed a meter and reuses leftover bathwater to flush the toilet.
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_Mirror_
According to Roger, many of his elderly friends are also living frugally. Beyond concerns over basic necessities, they also face price surges for other services. For instance, Roger's car insurance premium soared from 1,000 to 5,200 pounds when he turned 80, forcing him to seek another provider.
Unlike Roger, 71-year-old Tessa, who does not have the good health to work, faces winter with extreme anxiety. The UK government recently cut the winter fuel payment, which previously provided 200-300 pounds annually to older people. Due to her income slightly exceeding the eligibility threshold, Tessa was excluded from receiving the support.
"I am considering selling some belongings and limiting heating as much as possible," Tessa said. Living alone and relying on her pension and a small allowance from the National Health Service (NHS), she worries her health will deteriorate if she has to live in a cold house for an extended period.
Recent research from the organization Age UK shows that one-third of Britons over 65 have to cut electricity during the coldest months. 35% of respondents choose to lower heating temperatures, 15% limit bathing, and one in 20 people have to skip meals due to lack of money.
The organization warns that pensioners are adopting "extreme measures" to survive. Approximately 1,9 million elderly Britons live in poverty, and this number is projected to exceed 2 million in the coming years.
Caroline Abrahams, director of Age UK, stated that in 2025, the organization's hotline assisted over 6,000 older people with applying for benefits, helping them access more than 36 million pounds in support that they were entitled to.
Ngoc Ngan (According to Guardian, Mirror)
