Martin Lewis has slammed cuts to the Winter Fuel Payment, which will see an end to the previously universal entitlement for pensioners.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves on Monday announced that the payments of up to £300 would now only be available to pensioners from this winter if they are receiving pension credit or other means-tested related benefits.
While insisting “this is not a decision I wanted to make,” Ms Reeves said eligibility rules must change, meaning just under ten million pensioners are set to miss out on the benefit.
Those of pension age receiving Pension Credit, Universal Credit, Income Support, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance and income-related Employment and Support Allowance will continue to be eligible.
But consumer champion Martin Lewis, known as the ‘MoneySavingExpert’, hit out at the change, warning that “yet again, those just above the thresholds will be hardest hit.”
Mr Lewis raised alarm over the change, saying that the energy bill cap was predicted to rise by 10 per cent in October, leaving bills nearly double those pre-energy crisis.
"Many pensioners eke out the £100 to £300 Winter Fuel Payments to allow them to keep some heating on through the cold months,” he said.
“While there's an argument for ending its universality due to tight national finances, it's being squeezed to too narrow a group – just those on benefits and Pension Credit. Yet again, those just above the thresholds will be hardest hit.”
Mr Lewis also expressed concern that while those on pension credit will continue to receive the additional support, many who are eligible are not currently in receipt of pension credit.
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He added that the Government has a “huge moral imperative to ensure the 800,000 people eligible for Pension Credit who don't get it, are informed, educated and helped through the process.”
"Pension Credit is a crucial gateway benefit, giving access to a host of other entitlements, and now with the link to the Winter Fuel Payment, it makes it even more important to ensure fewer miss out,” he said.
In the House of Commons, the Labour Chancellor insisted that the poor state of public finances left by the previous Conservative administration required her to make the move.
Citing an alleged £22 billion black hole in the public finances, she told MPs: “The scale of the situation we are dealing with means incredibly tough choices. I repeat, today, the commitment that we made in our manifesto to protect the triple lock.
"But, today, I am making the difficult decision that those not in receipt of pension credit or certain other means-tested benefits will no longer receive the winter fuel payment.
"From this year onwards, the Government will continue to provide winter fuel payments worth £200 for households receiving pension credit, or £300 for households in receipt of pension credit with someone over the age of 80.
"Let me be clear, this is not a decision I wanted to make, nor is it the one that I expected to make, but these are the necessary and urgent decisions that I must make."
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