BBC and free licence for over 75s

Conversations move on Anya as we see on lots of other threads!

This thread is not about which pensioners should/should not get free TV but about who should pay for it. The BBC is a large and powerful organisation, and though it has taken some hits lately, it is generally respected around the world.

I suspect many governments both past and present would like to see its influence weakened.

The £3 though might mean that other benefits kicked in, Jen. AgeUk (as I understand it, with the backing of the government) had a big push with advertising on TV and in the papers to try to encourage pensioners to claim extra benefits. But I do think that there is an element of pride as well as lack of knowledge which stops people claiming.

My point is Roses that means testing need not be relevant if it was based on the current pension credit claimants as the means testing has already been done.

I agree with that, too. Just speaking from experience of people I know who had to be made to claim.

However, if you know anyone you think could claim, direct them to the AgeUK website. The calculator is easy to use.

I don't think it's always the case that pensioners are too proud to claim, more that they don't know they can, or the forms are baffling perhaps.

38% of people eligible do not claim pension credits. They are the people who would not get the free licence if it was linked to pension credit. Rather than talk about the licence, maybe the discussion should be about pensioners being too proud to claim benefits.

£5.5 billion unclaimed by pensioners according to AgeUK. That's why the government wants to keep pensioners sweet. Imagine what would happen if everybody claimed pension credits, housing benefit, other benefits.

I did the AgeUK benefits calculator and found out that I could possibly claim £3 a month council tax refund. Not worth it, but there are obviously those who could claim a lot more.

Yes Kitty, she has checked out all she could be entitled to, and is above that 'Line' but not by much. of course, there has to be a cut off somewhere, but there will be many more people in the same boat.I think although you are right about a lot not needing it, there are some who appreciate it, and the admin would be costly to means test .

Roses, has you neighbour looked into attendance allowance and pension credit? She can ring AgeUk for advice.

I can see that there would be anomalies but it is ridiculous that we, and people like us get all of these things when we could manage without it.

The BBC will cover the cost by charging students who view on their computers etc, those on the BBC gravy train will not be affected

I don't think so.

People would expect the government (whatever colour it may be at the time) to step in and pay the fees. It would be a vote-loser if they didn't.

I suspect that this may be a clever way of 'passing the buck'. The cost of the free licences is bound to increase as the population ages. If it becomes too expensive the BBC (Not the Government!) will scrap it. The government manages to keep its nose clean and with that keeps the pensioners' vote

What about people 75 and over Kitty that really appreciate the Lic. Fee being paid,people like my neighbour aged 79 and living on half a teachers pension since her DH died.She isn't due any benefits other than WHA and free prescriptions and her state pension, like most of us have.I am pleased that the BBC will be paying for this.there must be many more people like her that really appreciate this being paid.

Nonnie, I was just going to make that point as most 75 year olds I know are out doing stuff. Linking it to some benefits would mean that the people who actually had little option but to watch a lot of TV, could get it free.

Means testing is a red herring as far as free prescriptions, WFA are concerned because most people who might be eligible have already been means tested. AgeUk did a brilliant job of making people aware of, and helping them to claim, AA and then referring the most likely candidates on for assessment for Pension Credit.

What I don't understand is why we keep being told that it would be impossible to administer when it would save (presumably) millions.

Yes Ana, I was referring to benefit claimants in general

Which is what the OP's about.

They do if they're over 75.

People on benefits don't receive free tv licences , one exception are the disabled and then it depends on their accommodation

You don't automatically get a free TV licence because you are on some benefits.

For example DLA is not an automatic gateway to having a free TV licence.

I agree with Kitty except for the inclusion of everybody on welfare benefits as there is as much disparity with welfare claimants as those not on benefits regarding personal wealth as discussed on another thread.

If welfare benefits were taxed in the same way as every other person ' annual income taxed', there could be more money for those pensioners and welfare claimants who are worse off.

Said a conservative.

It was part of a bigger deal which the BBC said they were happy with.

My feeling is why do they think that anyone over the age of 75 sits in front of the TV all day?

That old thing about the WFA has come up again but it is a red herring. It was originally introduced instead of increasing the pension so isn't really a WFA. Presumably they cannot now add it to the basic pension as it would be index-linked and cost more. Maybe they should and it would then be taxable?

They would have got their tv licence paid for anyway, roses, it's just that now the BBC has to provide it.

There are many pensioners that do not fall into the poor bracket for benefits but still do not have much money for extras, this will help them if they can use the money for other bills.

The thing is that there would not need to be means testing at all. That has already been done to decide which pensioners are entitled to Pension Credit Guarantee Credit (or some such unwieldy title!). Other benefits could be included such as DLA (as it currently called) or Pension Credit Savings Credit. All the age related benefits could be treated the same way. It always struck me as odd that Mum got WFP and didn't have to pay more for the heating in her Residential Home.

We get all the extra age benefits and could manage well enough without them. I am, btw, a Tory voter!

As far as the licence fee goes, I would happily pay twice as much to maintain a 'free' to view BBC!

We wrote to William Hague when he was our MP and gave him several scenarios about the winter Fuel allowance pertaining to the housing complex where MIL lives which is a fairly typical one. Heating is included in the rent and service charges which are already catered for for all the residents (its a housing association) through various welfare benefits and state pensions. The whole place is boiling hot all year and the windows are thrown open wide. All the residents get the Winter Fuel allowance and almost all are over 85. We asked WH if this isn't a waste of resources and his reply was that it was too expensive to means test. Same thing with the TV licence. I play golf with older people who have oodles of money and regularly boast of their extras i.e. Winter Fuel allowance and TV licence they are also delighted when they cheat the taxpayer by early money on the side from various little 'business' ventures. They are too a man/woman Tory voters.

Sorry petallus the "old dears" was entirely ironic! [tongue in cheek] emoticon
I may not quite qualify, and from what I have read this morning it may have gone by the time I do

You don't need a licence if you only watch catch-up and DVDs. How do you prove this? You do need a licence if you have a device capable of watching live programmes. If you haven't, how do you watch catch-up? DH and I had one of our usual heated arguments lively conversations about this yesterday but since both of us are technologically ignorant we didn't get anywhere.