According to the estimates provided by the government, in the years ending March 2025, March 2026 and March 2028 there will be an additional 50,000 pensioners in relative poverty after housing costs.

In the years ending March 2027, March 2029 and March 2030 an additional 100,000 pensioners would be in relative poverty after housing costs.

The annual figures are rounded to the nearest 50,000. [Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall] said this meant “small variations in the underlying numbers impacted can lead to much larger changes in the rounded headline numbers”.

The cumulative total over the years does not necessarily refer to individual pensioners, who could move in and out of relative poverty over time depending on their personal circumstances.

Currently the government estimates 1.9 million pensioners - around 15% - are in relative poverty.

The new estimates, published on Tuesday, suggest the cuts to the winter fuel payment would increase pensioner poverty by 0.5 percentage points.

A person is considered to be living in relative poverty if they have less than 60% of the median income.

In her letter, Kendall said the work and pensions department had written to 120,000 pensioners to encourage them to claim the pension credit to which they may be entitled.