Martin Lewis blasts Labour's Lisa Nandy over winter fuel payments

Moneysaving expert Martin Lewis has slammed the government for 'taking money out of the hands of pensioners' following its decision to slash winter fuel payments.

Labour's 'frightening' decision to means test the subsidy previously paid to all pensioners will see 10.7 million poorer older people lose out on the benefit, according to a shocking report published last night. 

Of these, 23 per cent are living in or just above the poverty line, while 800,000 are aged over 80 and 1.1million are living with a disability.

The savings guru addressed the report on Good Morning Britain earlier today, before launching into a heated exchange with Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy. 

A furious Mr Lewis told the Cabinet Minister there will be 'hundreds of thousands of the poorest pensioners' going without the benefit as he accused the government of 'taking money out of their hands'.  

He said: 'You have to accept there will be many hundreds of thousands of the poorest pensioners under £11,400 income you will not reach this year. 

'You are taking money out of their hands.'

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Mr Lewis continued: 'So let's be honest you are willing to accept that collateral damage of hundreds of thousands of poorest pensioners, many with dementia, not getting the winter fuel payment.'

Defending the government's decision, Ms Nandy said: 'No I am not willing to accept that, it's one of the reasons we have extended the cut-off point to apply [for pension credit] until April next year.'

She added: 'I don't accept your characterisation that we are indifferent to this. I couldn't care more and neither could the Chancellor and we are doing everything we can with the Work and Pensions Secretary to deal with this enormous black hole and this appalling economic inheritance.'

Ms Nandy said there has been a 'huge drive' to get the poorest pensioners to sign up for pension credit, which would automatically make them eligible for the winter fuel payment, despite there still being around 780,000 yet to apply. 

Mr Lewis hit back, saying: 'There is a huge flaw in what you've said. You believe they should get pension credit and winter fuel, but they're not going to claim. They are the hardest to reach, you're not writing individual letters to them.

'There's lots you could do. So to try and talk about it, "we're targeting the poorest".. The truth is you're not targeting them. Why aren't you writing them bloody letters?' 

The analysis by Age UK, published last night, found four in five pensioners living below or just above the poverty line are set to lose their winter fuel allowance.

Caroline Abrahams, of Age UK, said though some people have asserted that poor pensioners, that is those on certain benefits, will still be protected the assessment 'drives a coach and horses through that claim'.

She added: 'The research supports our worst fears – that unless ministers change tack, and quickly, millions of older people on low and modest incomes could be facing potential disaster as the weather chills.'

If the Government refuses to U-turn, she said, it must 'at the very least' expand eligibility to keep the allowance to pensioners on other benefits.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has justified the cut as necessary to combat a £22 billion blackhole Labour says was left by the previous Tory Government.

But the move has angered many Labour MPs as well as opposition parties, unions and campaign groups amid warnings that cutting the payments, which are worth up to £300, could lead to 'excess deaths' this winter.

Tory pensions spokesman Mel Stride said it isn't too late for Labour to 'back our calls to reinstate' the allowance.

Liberal Democrat spokesman Steve Darling said: 'We have heard countless stories of pensioners terrified about just making it through the winter without having to choose between heating and eating.' 

Labour backbenchers are continuing to lobby the Treasury to change its mind – or at least delay the cuts – while the party's largest trade union backer, Unite, held a demonstration outside Parliament on Monday.

A Government spokesman said: 'Over a million pensioners will still receive the [allowance] and our drive to boost Pension Credit take up has already seen a 152 per cent increase in claims.'

Last night, the Scottish Parliament voted for a motion calling for the reversing of the UK Government's decision.