BBC: We want to means-test free licences
Cost-saving plans a ‘disaster’ say campaigners
THE BBC could means-test free TV licences for the over-75s.
It is one of the options being considered by the corporation, but the plan has been slammed as an “abject disaster” by campaigners.
The Tories put free TV licences at risk under a 2015 deal passing responsibility for funding the £745million-a-year lifeline to the BBC from June 2020. The Beeb says it would have to make huge cuts to cover the cost.
The corporation is considering making over-75s pay half the cost of a TV licence, currently £154.50, or raising the entitlement age to 80.
But it is understood that plans to means-test the subsidy by limiting free TV licences to over-75s who receive pension credit is gaining ground. This would slash the cost to £209million a year, according to the BBC’s own analysis.
The Tories vowed at the 2017 election to keep the deal for 4.5 million households, but means-testing would protect only 900,000 of the nation’s poorest pensioners.
Age UK charity director Caroline Abrahams said: “Means-testing the TV licence would be an abject disaster for older people. Meanstesting doesn’t work with pensioners – more than one in three of the poorest do not get the means-tested help to which they are entitled because they just don’t claim.” Labour’s Tom Watson said: “You cannot means-test for social isolation. This Tory Government should stand by its manifesto promise and preserve free TV licences today.” The BBC will announce its plans for the future of the benefit within the next few weeks.
A BBC spokeswoman said: “We set out a range of options in our consultation to help the BBC make the fairest decision. We are carefully considering all the responses before making any decision.”