Michael Eastkin faced giving up all of the things he loved after racking up a credit card debt of around £1,300 – and then facing a cut to his winter fuel payments.
Michael says despite building up the debt, he was just about managing with his finances thanks to his state pension and some private savings.
The 74-year-old was relying on the winter fuel allowance – a payment given to pensioners for heating and energy costs – to help him through the colder months.
But then, not only was this benefit taken away from him in July 2024 when it was means-tested to those on pension credit, he also saw his gas and electricity bill rise.
He says the cut, and rumours of other benefits being cut, “really set off a…