The cost of living crisis could lead to mass breaches of the money purchase annual allowance (MPAA) as more people flexibly access taxable income from their retirement pot to cover increased costs.

The Treasury told platform AJ Bell that a quarter of pension savers over 55 contributed more than £4,000 a year to their pensions in 2020/21.

Those who flexibly access taxable income from their retirement pot will trigger the MPAA, reducing their annual allowance from £40,000 to just £4,000.

Tom Selby, head of retirement policy at AJ Bell, said: “There is mounting evidence that squeezed savers are being forced to turn to their pension pots to make ends meet during the cost-of-living crisis.

“In the first three months of the 2022/23 tax year, for example, over half a million people withdrew £3.6 billion from their retirement pots, a 23% increase versus the same period in 2021/22.

“While we don’t know exactly what has driven this behaviour, the most likely culprit is spiralling inflation. With millions of families struggling to pay the bills at the moment, for many turning to their hard-earned pensions will feel like the only option.

"There will also inevitably be lots of parents or grandparents who are taking some income from their pensions to help younger generations get by.”

He called on the Government to abolish the MPAA: “The Treasury itself admits around 25% of pension savers aged 55 and over contributed above the MPAA in 2020/21. This, combined with the fact many will be forced to turn to their pension in the coming months and years to cover higher living costs, points to a real risk of mass breaches of the MPAA.

“Keeping this roadblock to saving for retirement in place isn’t just bad for individuals – it runs counter to stated Government policy. The Government is desperately trying to get older people back into the workforce, yet by setting such a low MPAA it is creating a disincentive by limiting their ability to build or rebuild their pension.”

AJ Bell wrote to the Treasury last year warning rising inflation risked forcing people to dip into their pensions earlier than planned.

Over £3.6 billion of flexible pension withdrawals were made by over 500,000 people between 1 April and 30 June 2022, a 23% increase compared to the same period in 2021, according to the report.

AJ Bell has called for the Chancellor to increase the MPAA to £10,000 at the Budget and review whether it is necessary at all.

In response to AJ Bell’s letter, Treasury economic secretary Andrew Griffith rejected the suggestion of changing the MPAA, suggesting the measure was agreed with the industry.