Labour is facing fresh fury over winter fuel payment cuts after it emerged around 600,000 disabled pensioners will still miss out despite the U-turn. An equality report quietly published by the Government on Friday revealed more than a quarter of the two million OAPs set to lose the allowance are disabled.

All older people will receive the payment this year after it was axed for most pensioners last year in a deeply unpopular move. But those with an income of more than £35,000 will have to return the cash.

Shadow pensions secretary Helen Whately told The Telegraph: “Under pressure, Labour lurched into a half-baked means test causing yet more confusion and still leaving disabled pensioners in the cold.

“The system they’ve now designed is clumsy, complicated and ill-judged.”

Silver Voices raised fears over higher energy bills typically paid by disabled households.

Director Dennis Reed said: “An annual income of £35,000 is not a king’s ransom under any circumstances – let alone for a disabled pensioner.

“This shows the crudeness of having a means-tested cut off because it doesn’t take into account the individual circumstances.

“There are usually extra costs involved with having a disability. You might have to heat the house more than you otherwise would, or have to charge medical equipment such as electric wheelchairs, for example.”

Chancellor Rachel Reeves sparked an intense backlash in July last year when she announced plans to restrict winter fuel payments to only OAPs on pension credit.

Ministers blamed a £22 billion black hole in the public finances left by the Tories, which they denied.

In June Ms Reeves confirmed a U-turn on the policy with those with an annual income of £35,000 or below now eligible.

A spokesman for the Department for Work and Pensions said: “We are committed to supporting pensioners and thanks to our triple lock, millions will see their yearly state pension rise by £1,900 this parliament.

“Nine million pensioners will also have help with their fuel bills this coming winter.”