‘Unprecedented’ numbers of pensioners will die from cold as bills soar warning

“Unprecedented” numbers of pensioners may die from cold due to soaring bills over the winter, a charity warns today – with some likening the crisis to rationing during World War Two.

Age UK issued a stark warning to the next PM, calling for the government to urgently pledge additional support.

Charity director Caroline Abrahams said: “Older people and others in our society on low incomes will also need a big injection of extra financial support from the Government to see them through the autumn and winter, because inflation is so rapidly eroding the help they were given just a few months ago.

“If this doesn’t happen our sincere belief is that we could see unprecedented numbers of older people dying of cold in their own homes, something we would never say lightly and that is incredibly shocking in the 21st century.”

More than half of pensioners say Liz Truss or Rishi Sunak need to restore the triple lock – which raises pensions by 2.5%, the inflation rate or earnings, whichever is highest – as their top priority.

A survey by Age UK found 57% said restoring the triple lock is the biggest issue they want to see addressed, alongside help with the cost of living.

One pensioner, among 14,000 who responded to the charity’s survey, said: “This is almost like going back to January 1940 for some of us when rationing was introduced during World War Two.”

Another wrote: “Heating and food are my main concern. At present I am cutting back on food, buying cheaper brands, not buying clothes just so I can put enough by to pay for oil and electric.”

Ms Abrahams said: “The way the cost of living keeps rising is a nightmare for us all, but especially for people on low incomes, among them millions of pensioners. “Every day the news about inflation seems to get worse, it’s no wonder some older people have told us they have switched off the news because they can’t bear to hear any more.”

Age UK has written to Ms Truss and Mr Sunak saying that energy bills could consume 45% of the average state pension next year – and said committing to bringing back the triple lock would provide “huge reassurance”.

Yesterday The Mirror reported that energy bills could rise even higher than previously feared, reaching nearly £5,500 in the spring, experts warned – as Tory favourite Liz Truss faces pressure to come clean on how she’ll handle the crisis.

Forecasters said that if gas prices don’t drop in the next few months, the energy price cap could hit £4,650 in January and £5,456 by April – a mammoth £104 a WEEK.

Energy consultancy Auxilione today issued the worst warning yet – warning that even when prices begin to fall next summer, they will still be thousands of pounds more than they are at the moment.

Ms Truss, who is widely tipped to take over as PM next month, yesterday branded Labour plans to freeze the energy cap until April “sticking plasters on the problem”.

In response, rival Rishi Sunak’s campaign branded her response to the unfolding catastrophe “clear as mud” as blue-on-blue infighting continues.