The DWP has confirmed every person over state pension age will receive a letter "from mid-October" explaining the new eligibility rule changes to winter fuel.

Since 1997, all British pensioners have been able to claim a tax-free payment to help with their heating costs. The winter fuel payment, introduced by the last Labour government, previously doled out as much as £300 a year to all retirees.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves is still expected to press ahead with her plan to cut the winter fuel payment for millions of pensioners despite being handed a £10 billion budget boost by the Bank of England.