A pensioner from Cornwall has been forced back to work because he only had £6 left each month after bills. Rob Trewhella, 67, from Penzance, couldn’t make ends meet with just his State Pension.
He gets £814 a month but pays £675 for rent, £104 in council tax, and about £40 for electricity.
Rob told the Mirror: “It’s just a tiny flat with electric storage heaters so if I don’t turn the heating on and keep it down to £30 a month, I’m left with £6. I have to be frugal. I’ll do a batch of cooking to not use the oven too much. I keep the lights off. Two of the bulbs have gone and I just leave it like that with one bulb working.”
He also said: “If I feel cold, I will not put the heating on. I’ve got a smart metre here and I watch it ticking over. When you put a microwave on the light turns red and it just piles on. I put an extra layer on when I’m a bit chilly. If I go shopping, I’ve never done this before. I’m now looking for the bargains.”
Rob explained how his life has changed: “There used to be a time when I would buy myself a nice new pair of Levis. Now I buy all my clothes from Tesco or Sainsburys or a Chinese company online which is cheap. I’ve got a coat that I wear in colder months and I’ve had that for 11 years. I’m terrified and I know many people are in the same boat.”
To make ends meet, he returned to work and now drives for over 25 hours a week for £250. “I have to renew my taxi licence in June and what if I fail my medical?” he said on his one day off that week.
Rob, who used to be a tree surgeon and butcher, is angry that his pension will now be taxed.
“Why is it that I started work at 18 when I left college and I have been paying tax and national insurance all my working life.”
“Now I’m at a point where I’m having to work to enhance my state pension and I’ve been bloody taxed? The state pension should be totally protected, that should be the money you paid in all your working life.”
“I am terrified, literally terrified. I’m trying to get onto the housing association register. I don’t want to be completely broke, unable to feed myself properly, not have a vehicle, unable to pay my rent. If I can’t get out of the private rent sector. What do I do? Live in a tent? What sort of life is that? “.
“Last week on the availability for social housing there were 31 properties I could bid on throughout Cornwall. I was looking at one flat and 122 people bid on it. I have even considered buying a camper van and living in a layby. Trouble is I can’t afford to buy one now! “.
“You don’t realise this as you are drifting through life. I thought I would retire and not have to get up in the morning. I live in a beautiful part of the country. I thought I would be able to go out and for walks and buy a pasty. I don’t drink, I play quiz on Tuesday evening on my night off. But I drink ginger beer so I’m a cheap date.”
Rob is worried about the future of young people: “I look at youngsters and I just think your last job is going to be digging your own grave because you won’t have a state pension there’s going to be nothing at the end of it. That’s the sad outlook. It’s a cruel world.”
He has a message for politicians: “When a politician is spouting off they have no idea.”
In a message to politicians, he called for action and said: “For God’s sake give us a chance.”
