Energy bill is the worst

PETER MARCINIAK, 70, RETIRED

Peter, a former NVQ assessor, and wife Jayne, 65, own their home in Nottingham and live off Peter’s £812-a-month state pension and Jayne’s £400 private one.

Jeremy Hunt has pledged to increase the state pension in line with inflation but for Peter it will mean he is worse off.

He says: “With my pension and earnings from savings, we’ll have passed the threshold for income tax. It’s giving with one hand and taking with the other.”

And he’s not impressed with the £300 cost-of-living payment to those over state pension age either. “It won’t make much difference, with energy and food bills.

“We’ve started going to the shop every day and just buying what we’ll be eating, giving ourselves £5 to spend. Energy bills are the worst. We’ve either turned off the storage heaters, or turned them down, yet still pay £7 a day. It’s unbelievable.”