“Although high, the official inflation rate simply does not reflect the reality facing millions of pensioners. Soaring energy and food prices mean the average pensioner is now experiencing an inflation rate of 7.4% – leaving many struggling to afford the basics, let alone anything else.

“With the cost of living sky-rocketing, the Government should be taking the real rate of inflation for pensioners into account when uprating next year’s Basic State Pension and Pension Credit. In the meantime, the Government must respond to these exceptional times by introducing an emergency package of measures to help the most vulnerable pensioners through this winter.”