BACK-BENCH MPs continued to grill the government over means-testing the winter fuel allowance today amid fears many pensioners will miss the deadline to apply.

An estimated 10 million pensioners will no longer be eligible to receive the up to £300 lump sum after the government restricted it to those who qualify for pension credit and other means-tested help.

Ministers have been urging pensioners on a low income to apply before this Saturday for pension credit.