Over-75s ‘badly let down’ over end of free TV licences

THE UNIVERSAL free TV licence for over-75s has come to an end, in what has been called a “sad day for our older population”.

The BBC will now means-test the entitlement, having previously delayed the move because of the pandemic.

Over-75s must receive pension credit to qualify for the free TV licence, which costs £157.50.

Caroline Abrahams, charity director of Age UK, said: “This is a sad day for our older population, many of whom are feeling badly let down by both the Government and the BBC.”

She said “more than half a million of the poorest pensioners will still have to pay for a licence, cut spending on other essentials like food or heating, give up TV altogether or keep watching without a licence, in breach of the law” because they do not qualify for pension credit.

Age UK is calling on everyone aged over 75 to see without delay if they are eligible for Pension Credit, if they have not already.

Ms Abrahams added: “As the disastrous impact of the BBC’s plan on some of our ‘oldest old’ becomes apparent over the next few weeks, we hope this will bring the Corporation and the Government back to the table, to find another way to keep TV free for the oldest in our society.”

The BBC agreed to take on responsibility for funding the scheme as part of the charter agreement hammered out with the Government in 2015. It has said that it cannot afford to continue the universal entitlement amid other budget pressures.

TV Licensing has said that it will write to all over-75 licence holders from August, outlining what action to take.