Wealthy pensioners should lose free bus pass, MPs suggest A number of ministers are known to support the idea of means testing pensioners" benefits such as the free TV licence, which were introduced by Gordon Brown. However, Mr Cameron has ruled out any cuts to the "universal" pensioners" benefits before 2015. The report said 988,000 pensioners have assets worth more than £1 million while some 100,000 pensioner families have incomes of more than £100,000 a year. "There is growing acceptance that winter fuel payments for millionaires are perverse and unfair," the report, written by Chris Skidmore, the Conservative MP for Kingswood, said. We must one day face the reality that, with a dramatically ageing population, universal benefits to wealthy pensioners are unsustainable. Pensioners" benefits should be brought into line with the Chancellor's plan to cut child benefit from families with an income of more than £50,000 or more. It cannot be right that a government minister like John Prescott can retire with an annual final salary pension of over £60,000 per year, yet still receive further handouts from the taxpayer every winter. It is equally wrong that 671 members of the House of Lords qualify for the winter fuel payment. The richest pensioners with separate incomes over £50,000 should no longer receive winter fuel allowance, a free bus pass and free TV licences. The report also recommended that under-25s who claim unemployment allowances should be forced to repay their benefits in the form of a loan. It is "self -evident" that a man who loses his job aged 50 has put more into the welfare system than "an unemployed teenager." Some of Mr Cameron's closest allies have urged him to reconsider his pledge to protect universal benefits for pensioners. Senior Liberal Democrat and Labour figures are among the leading politicians who have suggested that the system may need to be reviewed at a time of economic strain. The winter fuel allowance alone is worth up to £200 for each pensioner - £300 for those over the age of 80. Yesterday a report from the think-tank Reform said free TV licences and winter fuel allowances represented "poor value for money." Recent supporters of calls to reconsider the benefits include Iain Duncan Smith, the Work and Pensions Secretary, and Nick Boles, before he became planning minister in September.