Woman Worried about Energy Bills Died of Hypothermia
In the News
This is such a sad story, for someone to be so afraid of getting into debt that they were afraid to heat their home or even one room, unless they had visitors.
I think all the media stories about the cost of living crisis has made people very apprehensive about their energy bills.
I know I think twice before I put the heating on and I am in work, so can only image the pressure a pensioner on a fixed income must feel.
This is such a sad reflection on the UK in the 21st century, it's like something out of a Dickensian novel.
Pjran I was amazed to read that she worked until she was 82, which made it more poignant, somehow, that she was so worried about putting her heating on 
Such a sad story, it's not right that she lived in such fear when she had worked for so long. The rich have got far to wealthy while the poor become even poorer.
beccatavender - This news is not new. It happens to hundred of pensioners every year. Remember pensioners get winter allowances (I don't know how much). I can't understand what she or the other pensioners do with this money. Nevertheless this is very sad news anyway.
jam45 I think a lot of people of that generation are frighten of not living within their means and I know I read about four in ten pensioners don't claim Pension Credits as they are too proud or don't know they are eligible for. It's just so sad.
When I get to pensionable age I'll be claiming everything I can including a bus pass if still available and making heavy use of it. I've hardly put my heating on at all this past winter. I don't think I've put it on at all in the living room and just a bit for the bedroom. I actually really like it when my head is cold but my body is warm under two duvets. However as you get older you don't create your own body heat as well and I'm overweight which helps me maintain body heat. It's horrific that heating for elderly people has become unaffordable. Some homes are harder to heat too it could be location, construction and other factors that mean its more difficult and more expensive.
This for me isn't a political response but if ever there was a time where this should be leading the news channels stories it would be this 1.Thank you beccatavender for sharing this as its left me really shocked and so terrible something like this can happen in the UK.
This is such a sad story she probably had the money but still would sit cold you know what a lot of pensioners are like they try not to spend its just the way things were years ago for them and they still do the same god love her
Unfortunately this sort of thing happens every year, although it will probably get worse now with cost of living crisis. My husband and I always tell his Granny not to sit in the cold, make sure she is warm, not to worry about the cost. Sadly a lot of older people are scared to put the heating on incase it means they can't afford other essentials.
Wearing extra clothes and even using heat pads are cheap ways of maintaining body heat and the heating goes with you so you can remain comfortable working outside, in a garage or shed etc. It makes sense to heat yourself rather than whole houses to a degree.
It's really terrible that this happened but is going to happen more and more because the government won't put a stop to the constant increases in gas and electric. It made me angry that it was reported that this was self neglect implying that the poor woman felt she had a choice which of course she didn't. As for pension credit not everbody is entitled to it my parents aren't it depends on when you where born. So lots of people miss out on this benefit.
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