Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Telly is the only company some old folk have... taking their free licence is mean
OAPS: We’d have to cut food & heat to fund TV
MORE than two million OAPS will have to switch off their TVS or cut back on heating and food if they are stripped of free TV licences.
A study for Age UK found 41.6% of people aged 75 will face the grim choice.
Charity director Caroline Abrahams urged the Government “to stop hiding behind the BBC and accept responsibility for free TV licences for over-75s”.
Households with a member aged 75 or over currently have the perk.
The Tories pledged at the 2017 election to keep the benefit for this Parliament, due to run until 2022. But pensioners face losing it after the BBC was made to fund it from June 2020. The BBC could axe, curb or means-test the perk.
Meanwhile, the annual cost of a licence is due to climb from £150.50 to £154.50 on April 1.
A fifth of 1,235 over-65s quizzed by pollsters Kantar TNS said they would curb other spending.
A quarter said they would reduce heating while 20% would cut back on food. Some 29% of over-75s live in poverty or just above the poverty line, says Age UK.
A petition by the charity to save free licences has almost 60,000 signatures.
Labour’s deputy leader Tom Watson said: “If the Government had any compassion for these older people they would step in and save free TV licences.”
A BBC consultation ends on Tuesday. Asked by MPS in September to pledge licences will stay free, director-general Lord Hall said: “I can’t give a guarantee.” STRICTLY star Len Goodman believes television is a “precious window to the modern world” for lonely pensioners that will be lost if their free licence is scrapped.
The screen veteran ripped into the Tories over plans to make over-75s pay as many rely on the TV for companionship. Len also backed the Mirror and Age UK campaign to keep the free licence, which rises from £150.50 to £154.50 in April.
The 74-year-old said: “For some older people telly is their only companion. It’s what breaks the day up when they don’t see anyone and keeps them in touch with the news.
“TV provides entertainment and educational value for older people.
“But it’s a much greater source of comfort and companionship to those living in loneliness and those who are housebound. For the chronically lonely TV must be a precious window to the modern world.
“So even hearing that they might have to pay for it will worry a lot of them.
“I just don’t understand why the Government can’t recognise that people who have given to this country for decades ought to be looked after. The idea of denying old people their telly is mean and whingeing.
“And many older people living on very low incomes would genuinely struggle to pay for a TV licence. An extra £154.50 a year would cause great distress. Please sign the Mirror and Age UK petition to help keep those free TV licences.”
The BBC may scrap the free licences for over-75s when the Tories hand it responsibility for the annual £720million funding next year.
Its consultation on the matter closes next Tuesday, with a decision due in the summer. Age UK are campaigning for licences to remain free and to be taken back into government hands. Len, who was on BBC’S Strictly for 12 years until 2016, is also urging the public to help fight the curse of loneliness.
Age UK research has revealed that 1.7 million old people in England can go a whole month without meeting up with a friend while 300,000 over-65s don’t even speak to a pal or family member.
Len, who is an ambassador for the charity, added: “Life is one big rush and no one has time to stop and chat. But a friendly natter can make an enormous difference.”
The former TV star recently joined an Age UK dance class. He said: “I had so much fun having a natter and a dance with the ladies. Events like that are a godsend to people.”
The Mirror is backing Age UK’S Switched Off: S ave free TV f or over-75s petition at ageuk.org.uk/tvpetition. Or you can use the coupon below. To support the charity visit ageuk.org.uk or call 0800 169 8787.