Martin Lewis issues letter warning over winter fuel payment cuts as he says 'there is a huge flaw'

The Cabinet minister was on Good Morning Britain where she was grilled by Martin Lewis over the controversial move to scrap the winter fuel payment for millions of pensioners

Martin Lewis grilled Cabinet minister Lisa Nandy over the controversial slashing of winter fuel payments for millions of pensioners. Challenging the Culture Secretary on Good Morning Britain he said the government must accept hundreds of thousands of the poorest pensioners "will not be reached this year".

The government has come under increasing pressure amidst widespread calls from both the public and charity organisations to rethink their plan to cut the £300 winter fuel payments which benefit most pensioners.

Under the reforms laid out in July, only the most deprived pensioners on pension credits or similar benefits will remain eligible for the additional payment. Concerningly, it's estimated that around 780,000 people entitled to pension credit still haven't claimed it, kindling anxiety that many who most require the extra support will go without.

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While Nandy underscored the government's efforts to get more of the poorest pensioners signed up for pension credit, including a noteworthy 115% increase in applicants, Lewis didn't shy away from identifying a significant oversight, remarking on Good Morning Britain: "There is a huge flaw in what you've said."

He lambasted the government's current approach, stating it would take four years before all these people signed up for support and did not miss out. "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," he said.

He further added: "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? However, Ms Nandy stressed that the government is indeed sending letters to eligible pensioners, adding: "I know how strongly you feel about it, Martin. We do take very seriously what you say, what Age UK says, and we're working with the widest range of people to make sure that we do reach those people.

"In fairness, you've just said to me you're not writing them bloody letters; well, we are. I just wanted to explain that because I don't want people to think for a moment we're going to leave them high and dry.

"But Mr Lewis, who has been campaigning on the issue, said the government must accept hundreds of thousands of the poorest pensioners "will not be reached this year". He added: "You are taking money out of their hands. Do you accept the truth, the reality is, that is what will practically happen?

"Let's be honest, you're willing to accept that collateral damage of hundreds of thousands of pensioners - many [with] dementia - not getting the winter fuel payment.

"Ms Nandy responded firmly, saying: "No, I'm not willing to accept that. It's one of the reasons we've extended the cut-off point to apply [for pension credit] until April next year. Even if people don't realise right now, despite this sort of conversation happening on national media... they find out later they are still eligible, they can still apply, they will get it backdated. ".