Should the Over-75's continue to get a free TV Licence?

There has been an outcry over BBC plans - as from next summer 2020 - to scrap the blanket free tv licence fee for the over-75's.

Quote:

From next summer, only households where at least one person receives pension credit - around 900,000 currently - will not have to pay. But two fifths of people who are entitled to this benefit aren't getting it, according to charity AgeUK. Some don't know they can claim, many struggle to apply and even more feel embarrassed about needing help, it added. Last night, Prime Minister Theresa May said she was "very disappointed" with the decision to scrap the free licenses and demanded the BBC to rethink the call.

It was originally introduced by Labour with the government funding it. The Conservative government demanded the BBC should subsidise it, so it is a bit rich Theresa May claiming to be 'disappointed' when her government reneged on supporting it in the first place.

Pensioners will now have to be means tested if they want a free licence. They have to be in receipt of a 'pension credit'. This means if their state pension is less than the current £168 pw with no other income and savings of less than £15K they can be paid the difference between what they are getting and £168. Personally I don't see how anyone can get by on such a paltry sum

Even those with annuities or drawdown accounts might struggle. However, those who retired back in the day before the 2008 recession had a much better pension pot and often 'final salary' so those who retired between then and now will be the hardest hit, especially if they depend on television for their main entertainment.

via International Skeptics Forum http://bit.ly/2KHMeRz