‘Middle-earners are always hit’

MARRIED mother-of-three Maria Bailey is grateful for the extra help but is worried about escalating costs over winter.

‘We’ve got a false sense of security at the minute as we’re in the summer months, so the heating isn’t on,’ she says.

The 45-year-old stay-at-home mum, pictured, who lives with husband Luke, 4 , in Paignton, Devon, runs a grief counselling service and offers courses online.

Since their energy supplier Avro went bust, the family’s energy bills have doubled to £200 a month. And their estimated annual bill has jumped to £2,900 a year. Mrs Bailey is now trying to increase her household income. She has even considered downsizing to tackle rising costs, as it would reduce the mortgage repayments and a smaller property would be cheaper to heat.

Mrs Bailey says the £400 discount on energy bills in October will help, but describes it as ‘a one-off hit and not a long-term solution’.

She added: ‘As middle-earners we always get squeezed. We’re not poor enough to warrant help and we’re not rich enough to do more than get by.’