pensioner

Most pensioners have other pension payments which means they already pay tax, and experts say the move could add further complexity to the system.

Once part of the erstwhile princely state of Mysore, it was known as "garden city" or a "pensioner's paradise".

She said the budget "will mean more money in the pocket of people who need it the most, support for energy bills, a raise in the minimum wage and good news for pensioners."

But many of those are pensioners, and the chancellor said the over-65s will still be able to save up to £20,000 in cash.

She claimed a "black hole" in the nation's finances meant winter fuel payments would have to be axed for millions of pensioners and National Insurance hiked for employers.