A minister has risked fuelling a pension pot panic by refusing to rule out a raid at the Budget.
Experts have been warning of signs that people are acting to pull money out of retirement funds amid speculation about Rachel Reeves' plans.
The Chancellor is scrambling to find ways of balancing the government's books with fears the gap could be as big as £50billion.
Before the fiscal package last year there were rumours that the amount people can draw out of pots tax-free would be cut. The limit is currently 25 per cent of the value, to a ceiling of £268,275.
In the event Ms Reeves did not go ahead with a cut, but there was criticism that the uncertainty meant many Brits acted pre-emptively and damaged their own financial interests.
