An additional 50,000 pensioners will be living in relative poverty next year as a result of cuts to the winter fuel allowance, the government's own estimates have revealed. Earlier this year, Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced the £300 payment would be restricted to all but the poorest pensioners - those eligible for pension credit.

Cutting winter fuel payments for pensioners will drive 100,000 more into poverty by 2026, the government has admitted Tens of thousands more pensioners will fall into relative poverty next year as a result of Labour’s decision to means test the payment,

The DWP on Tuesday published an internal analysis of the policy that showed that ministers were aware of the number of pensioners that would be plunged into poverty