we are not helping ourselves if we want free TV licences

mabon1

Yes indeed the Pension will increase in April, it will be swollowed by increasing water rates, council tax and heating bills. Millions of us have been born too early to receive the full rise anyway.

Some of us get more because we were born earlier. I get more than the new pension

Usedtobeblonde

I really don’t have a problem with paying a TV licence.
I pay monthly by DD and it costs £15 a month.
I have 100’s of channels and apps to use for this cost.
If I went to the cinema, which is hardly ever, it would cost much more than that each visit taking in transport or parking.
I shall willingly subsidise those on low income and disabled.

The licence is only payable for the BBC as all other channels are commercial. We also pay just under £15. a month and for a brief period we were granted a free licence due to our age. However, this stopped and at 84 we still pay the full licence. Not even a discount.

This is something I don't mind paying for. Can get worked up about it. I think that is why the petition has had a poor response.

To be clear. The licence isn’t only payable for the BBC.

The TV Licence is for live TV viewing whoever the provider is. So even if you never watch BBC live but watch (say) ITV, Channel 4, Sky, Amazon, Netflix etc live you still need a licence.

You also need a licence to stream on-demand content from BBC iPlayer.

In other words, the only people who don’t need to buy a licence are those who only ever watch on-demand (not live) content from commercial broadcasters.

www.tvlicensing.co.uk/check-if-you-need-one#:~:text=You%20need%20to%20be%20covered%20by%20a%20TV%20Licence%20to,by%20your%20home%20TV%20Licence.

We are pensioners and both happy to pay for a license it is actually good value for money for the channels you get. I'm happy for those in straightened circumstances to get a free one or over 75's if they live in their own. There are many younger people with children on a low income , who could probably use a free license.

theworriedwell

mabon1

Yes indeed the Pension will increase in April, it will be swollowed by increasing water rates, council tax and heating bills. Millions of us have been born too early to receive the full rise anyway.

Some of us get more because we were born earlier. I get more than the new pension

Thanks for pointing this out, as it is so often forgotten on here. People on the old pension, many of whom do get more, also got their pension six or seven years before those on the new one, too.

many

some as *worriedwell said.

It's not forgotten, you have pointed it out many (not some) times. That is not in the least bit helpful for those of us who receive just or less than the basic old state pension.

Of course, people who got their pension 6-7 years earlier should have known they ought to have saved up, so the interest on their savings would match the new pension amounts. .

Of course.

And realised they might become suddenly ill and have to take early retirement therefore their pension would be reduced.

Funny how those crystal balls aren't always reliable.

Mollygo

Of course, people who got their pension 6-7 years earlier should have known they ought to have saved up, so the interest on their savings would match the new pension amounts. .

Eh? Who is saying that? What does it even mean? People will save up (if they can) so that they have spare money, not so they can 'match' someone else's pension.

Allira I only mention the fact that some on the old pension get more than anyone on the new when someone suggests that everyone on the new pension gets so much more. I could just as well say that that is 'not helpful' to those who had to wait an extra six years, but it would be just as pointless.

As regards TV licences, I think it's a difficult one. I do believe in the BBC as an independent broadcaster, and it has to get money from somewhere. If it is to remain independent the money can't come from the government or advertisers, so I can't think of where it can get it from other than viewers.

In general, I am not a fan of concessions being based purely on age. TV is good entertainment for anyone on a low income, whether that is a young family or an older person, and it seems cruel to deny it to any of them, but as with all means-testing there is no reason why someone with a slightly higher income should have to pay and end up worse off. I don't know. Is there a way of funding it that would be more equitable? I can see the point that younger people often have more opportunity to get out and do other things than someone older and infirm; but that's not always the case, if they live in a dangerous area or have young children to look after.

I think the TV licence is very good value, but that's cold comfort if you just don't have the money.