Call to protect free TV licence for over 75s

Pensioners ‘face poverty’ warning

SCRAPPING FREE TV licences would be a “cruel move” impacting upon millions of pensioners, charities have warned, pushing as many as 50,000 over the poverty line.

The Government is currently consulting on a number of options as to how licence fees for over-75 should be paid, as its funded scheme comes to an end next year.

It must take back responsibility for the funding of free licences, Age UK has argued, amid fears over the impact that would be seen were pensioners to be presented with the bill.

“Scrapping the free TV licence would be a real blow for many older people who already have many other challenges to contend with,” said Caroline Abrahams, charity director.

“Millions of older people, particularly those who are lonely or housebound with disabilities, rely on their TV as their trusted companion and window on the world, and it would be cruel indeed to undermine this in any way.”

The BBC has been undergoing a wide ranging strategy review, with bosses previously advised to consider changing the age threshold for the concession, alter the value of the discount or bring in means-testing, or scrap the free licence completely.

The free licence is already expected to cost the BBC £745m – £100m more than its entire radio budget – by the time the concession runs out in 2020.

But the free licence has always

been a “highly valued”, universal entitlement for the over-75s, Age UK has said, helping millions sustain their quality of life into late old age.

An additional bill of £150.50 – the current cost of an annual TV licence – would “undoubtedly cause great worry and distress” to hundreds of thousands of vulnerable pensioners who are already struggling to get by, the charity has said.

This would potentially force them to cut back on other essentials such as heating and food in order to remain informed and connected to the world beyond their doorstep, it added.

“Unfortunately the threat of pensioner poverty has not been vanquished in this country,” said Ms Abrahams.

“In fact official statistics make it clear that, after big advances at the start of this century, progress has more recently juddered to a halt and gone into reverse.

“At Age UK we are deeply concerned that scrapping free TV licences will simply accentuate this trend, pushing up to 50,000 more pensioners the wrong side of the poverty line.”

The charity has launched a petition on the issue and so far there have been more than 30,000 signatures.

Age UK said it had based its calculations on the Family Resources Survey.

A BBC spokesman said: “Free TV licences for people over 75 are expected to cost £745m a year by 2021-22, and Government funding for the scheme ends in June 2020.

“This is a really important issue. We’re conscious that pensioner poverty is still an issue for some older people.

“We have set out a range of options in our consultation – each has merits and consequences, with implications for the future of the BBC and for everyone, including older people.

“We need to hear everyone’s views to help the BBC make the best and fairest decision.”

Unfortunately the threat of pensioner poverty has not been vanquished. Caroline Abrahams, director of Age UK