‘Can’t afford the licence fee’ Cost of living crisis forces pensioners to ditch TV
BBC: Public share their views on TV licence fee
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Campaigners are warning that the cost of living crisis is stripping pensioners of any contact with the outside world and ditching their TV because they can’t afford the fee. They are calling on the Government to reinstate free TV licences for everyone aged 75 and over.
The cost of living crisis has only served to bring this issue back to the forefront.
Campaigners are calling for free TV licences to be reinstated for all over 75s – many of whom have no other connection with the outside world.
Dennis Reed, director at the Silver Voices which campaigns on matters impacting over 60-year-olds, warned the cost of living crisis would leave many forced to give up paying for a TV licence, cutting them off from the world.
He said: “The Tory broken promise on free TV licences is heaping worry upon worry for older people as we try to negotiate the cost-of-living storm.
“Thousands are giving up their main connection to the world outside because they can’t afford to pay the £159 fee, or flirting with fines by putting off payment.
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Mr Reed continued: “It will cut off poor pensioners from information and entertainment at a time when they will need it more than ever.
“Ministers should hang their heads in shame having broken solemn promises,” he told The Mirror.
In response, a TV Licensing spokesperson said: “We want to help customers remain correctly licensed and we continue to work with groups throughout the UK which support people who fall into financial difficulty.
“There are payment plans available to help spread the cost, and anyone 75 or over who receives Pension Credit is eligible to apply for a free licence paid for by the BBC”.
Thousands of pensioners are missing out on a free TV licence because they haven’t claimed Pension Credit.
To qualify for Pension Credit, Britons need to have reached state pension age and be earning less than £177.10 per week.
Claiming Pension Credit could also mean pensioners receive a council tax reduction, as well as help towards energy bills and free prescriptions.
This could save people hundreds, if not thousands of pounds, over the course of a year.
People who never watch live TV programmes on any channel including iPlayer don’t need a TV licence.
They can apply for a refund and claw some of the money back.
The TV licensing website states: “You don’t need a TV Licence if you only ever use Netflix or other online TV services to watch on demand or catch up programmes, except if you’re watching BBC programmes on BBC iPlayer.
“If you only watch on demand programmes on Netflix and don’t watch TV live on any TV or streaming service, and don’t watch BBC iPlayer, you may cancel your TV Licence if you won’t need it again before it expires.”
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