The Government is denying a £200 to £300 cold weather sum to 10 million pensioners, claiming the UK cannot afford it.
But when asked for a financial assessment behind the move both the Treasury and Department for Work and Pensions have declined to explain it.
One unnamed former minister has claimed the stonewalling is because no impact assessment for the elderly cash grab exists.
They said: "This is utterly wrong and a terrible blunder. This has been foisted upon the elderly with no warning and I suspect it's driven by young policy wonks who feel it's high time to get back at pensioners. It's simply unreal."
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