Axing free TV licence is ‘kick in teeth’ to OAPs
Charity boss fears for the thousands of over-75s already struggling to meet rising bills
Thousands of pensioners on the poverty breadline across Rutherglen and Cambuslang are set to lose their free TV licence.
Following a shock announcement by the BBC this week, it is estimated that around 3500 households in the Rutherglen constituency face having to pay for the licence next year.
Age Scotland’s chief executive Brian Sloan described the decision as “a kick in the teeth to the thousands of older people who are already struggling to stay on top of rising living costs”.
Currently, a free TV licence is available to all households that have at least one person aged over 75.
But from June 2020, only households with a pensioner aged over 75 who receives pension credit will be eligible.
The others will be forced to stump up the annual fee of £154.50 – or face being fined £1000.
Rutherglen MSP Clare Haughey said: “It’s entirely unfair that the UK Government have tried to pass responsibility for this cut onto the BBC.
“The blame for this – consistent with their wider hammering of living standards for older people – lies with the UK Government.
“As it stands, this cut could mean that around 3530 households in my constituency will lose out – a whopping 62 per cent of those who currently qualify.
“It is time this Tory government finally made the welfare of our older population a priority – instead of making things even worse by taking away key benefits.
“The Tories should urgently stop this swindle and ensure that the TV licence for over-75s is properly funded and protected.”
The Conservative government had pledged in 2017 to continue funding free TV licences for pensioners, but ministers then handed over the licensing powers to the BBC.
Age Scotland’s research shows almost six in 10 single pensioners and four in 10 pensioner couples already struggle to pay their heating bills.
Another new bill to pay could put many below the poverty line or further into poverty.
Mr Sloan, of Age Scotland, added: “If this goes ahead then we will see lonely and vulnerable people in their 80s and 90s, who depend on their TV for company, forced to give it up.
“Forty per cent of Scottish older people who are eligible for pension credit do not claim it, and will now face yet another annual bill that they can’t afford.
“We know that this is causing a huge amount of distress and anxiety among our poorest pensioners. “The UK Government must not renege on its manifesto promise to older people and continue to fund this entitlement for all of our over-75s.”
Conservative MP Damian Collins, chairman of the digital culture, media and sport select committee, said: “We at the DCMS committee will continue to monitor the BBC and, in particular, the impact that this cost will have on the BBC’s future.
“The select committee intends to question the chairman and directorgeneral of the BBC about the results of its consultation and the impact this will have on viewers and listeners.”
The Tories should urgently stop this swindle