Pensioners are 'two bill increases from crisis'

Jan Shortt said there are people just above pension credit whose budgets are "really squeezed"

The decision to scrap universal winter fuel payments has left many older people on the cusp of financial crisis, the UK's biggest pensioners organisation has warned.

The end of the £300 payment will be up for emergency debate at the annual National Pensioners Convention (NPC) event in Blackpool.

NPC general secretary Jan Shortt said some pensioners who were just above the pension credit qualification were "really squeezed", adding: "They only need one bill to increase and their budget goes out the window; more than one bill, and they're in crisis."

The government has said it is extending the Household Support Fund to help ease cost-of-living prsssures.

'Decent state pension'

Ms Shortt told BBC Radio Lancashire: "We are in the realm of having to decide whether you put your heating on in the winter, or whether you have a hot meal."

The NPC is the largest organisation in the UK that campaigns for pensioners, to ensure a financially secure and dignified life in retirement.

It also works to support people who will retire in the future.

Ms Shortt said it's "a really interesting two days that we've got planned".

"There's a lot of things that we get involved in," she added. "The biggest one is around a decent state pension for everyone. We talk about digital inclusion or exclusion, we have a housing policy about decent homes, and things around health and social care.

"Just about anything that affects an older person, we take note of and we try to make it a lot better if we can."

The NPC event at Blackpool's Imperial Hotel runs until 4 September, and the convention is planning to lobby Parliament on 7 October.