Millions facing double blow on the same day
MILLIONS of our oldest pensioners now face a double-whammy of losing their free TV licence and free food and medicine deliveries on the same day, angry campaigners warned yesterday.
The BBC is to withdraw free TV licences – which cost £157.50 – from the over-75s on July 31.
Only those on pension credit will continue to get their licence for free – around one million people.
And August 1 will also be the first day that vulnerable groups lose their free government food parcels and medicine deliveries.
The date has now been dubbed Spiteful Saturday by the campaign group Silver Voices, which is demanding that both perks remain.
Currently 3.7million older pensioners qualify for a free licence and 2.2 million vulnerable people in England – the majority elderly – are shielding in their homes.
Dennis Reed, a director of Silver Voices, said: “August 1 will be a desperate day for this age group.
“Older shielders, especially those without nearby friends or family, will be reliant on local charities if their health condition makes it too risky to venture out of their homes.
Unsafe
“Many will have no choice and the need for food, medicines and money will force them out.
“They’ll be forced into an unsafe environment for them, where community infection rates are still high, people flout social distancing rules and face masks are rarely worn.”
Silver Voices wants shielding support to be continued until at least the end of the year and the TV licence charge plan to be ditched.
More than 950,000 people aged 70-plus in England (12 per cent) have been on the shielded patient list for Covid-19 and continue to live very restricted lives.
Caroline Abrahams, of Age UK, said: “Millions of over-75s have had a torrid time and for some the start of August may feel like another kick in the teeth.
“We need to make sure older people who have been shielding know how to access the support they need so they are not left on a cliff-edge when packages end.”