Millions of pensioners risk pricy bills as costs set to rise by £341 per person

Millions of Brit pensioners could be paying a lot more money as much as £341 extra per person on energy bills.

Research found people over-65 spend as much per week on energy as the under-30s.

Pensioners spend £15 per week per person on energy, compared to £8 for those aged 30 to 49 and £7 for those under 30.

Analysis of Office for National Statistics figures by Labour found the average spend was £10 per person per week across all homes.

And pensioners' bills could increase by £341 per year per person when the energy price cap increases in April.

Estimates from the House of Commons Library suggest the price cap, which has already risen by 12%, could go up by 26-29%.

Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves said older people were being hit hard by rising energy prices as millions were "feeling the pinch".

Analysis also showed that a higher proportion of older people live in the least energy efficiency households.

Some 17% of households where the oldest person was aged 60 or above lived in homes in three least efficient bands (E-G) compared to 10% where no one was aged 60 or above.

The rate was even higher at 20% for households where someone was aged 75 or older.

It comes amid Tory unrest over the looming National Insurance hike coupled with the rising cost of living.

Commons Leader Jacob Rees-Mogg reportedly told the Cabinet that the National Insurance hike should be scrapped.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak said he understands "people's anxiety and concern about rising prices and inflation" but defended the decision to increase NI contributions from April.

He said: "It's always easy to duck difficult decisions but I don't think that's the responsible thing to do."

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A Government spokesperson said: "We are taking decisive action to help more than 11.4 million pensioners with the cost of living by providing Winter Fuel Payments of up to £300 per household.

"This is on top of wider support which includes reducing the universal credit taper – a tax cut worth over £2 billion – supporting households with their bills through the Energy Price Cap, Warm Home Discount Scheme, Cold Weather Payments, and Household Support Fund, as well as freezing alcohol and fuel duty."

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