State pension, USA News (Preston, Lancashire): Muriel Westworth says life is harder than ever for pensioners like her trying to manage on the bare minimum and fears the real-life effect of the Budget will make little difference.
Having worked hard all her life, Muriel Westworth never imagined that at the age of 74, she would be counting every penny. Muriel, who lives in Preston, Lancashire, suffers from numerous health conditions including arthritis, lymphedema, fibromyalgia and asthma. She began working at the age of 15 and worked past retirement age until she was 67, stopping only when her health deteriorated. Her employment history includes supermarkets, bar work, childminding and working in a cash and carry.
Muriel receives just over £600 a month with the state pension and around £500 a month in personal independence payment (PIP), while her husband Gordon, 64, works part-time at Asda. She states they are not entitled to any other benefits and must pay in full for everything, including dental treatment.
Financial Strain and Rising Bills
“Financially, things are harder than ever and the cost of everything is absolutely crucifying us. Our rent has gone up, our council tax has gone up and the price of gas and electricity is so high, I daren’t use it,” Muriel said. She noted that gas, electric, water bills, and food prices have all increased significantly. While she acknowledged upcoming changes such as the state pension increasing to £13,036 from April and a £100 household energy payment for council tax bands A to D, she believes pensioners like her will see little financial benefit.
Her husband Gordon can only work part-time due to his own health and faces a delayed retirement age of 67 instead of 65. Muriel explained she is not entitled to pension credit and does not receive the full state pension because she ran her own cleaning company for a time and missed National Insurance payments, leaving her £500 down.
Health Impact and Dental Care
Due to the high cost of heating, Muriel keeps her heating off despite suffering from 24/7 pain from arthritis and fibromyalgia, wearing a thick sweatshirt, cardigan, and blanket instead. She also reports eating only one meal a day due to anxiety and financial stress.
Recently, one of her teeth broke and left a stump in her gum, but she refuses to visit a dentist because she knows it will cost hundreds of pounds they do not have. She remarked that while they receive free prescriptions, they must pay full price for everything else, including dental treatment and glasses.
Reflecting on political leadership, Muriel expressed disillusionment, stating she no longer watches the news or votes because she feels pensioners are constantly hit hard by the Government and treated as an easy target.
