over 75s TV licence

www.theguardian.com/media/2019/jan/12/loss-free-bbc-tv-licence-could-push-over-75s-into-poverty-age-uk-warns

Difficult this isn't it. Do I think this will happen? Do you mean will they abolish it or will 50,000 suffer?
I don't need the government to pay for my licence and would rather they spent the money on something that would help to alleviate poverty.
I know that I could donate the money to charity but chances are that I wouldn't get round to it and my contribution would be welcome but not as effective as one huge pot of cash going to a big project.
BTW I don't get this payment yet but I do get the heating allowance.

I think £150 doesn't sound much -£3/week but it could make a difference to some people.

I meant do you think 50,000 could be pushed into poverty by it? I agree with you though it doesn't sound like much but for some it could be life changing.

the article suggests that people might give up buying food and heating to keep their tellies to stay informed! doesn't really take into account the radio

I think it would be a shame and have said so in the consultation. So many lonely old people would have to choose between heating/eating/TV. Very sad

I would prefer to give my money to charity as I don't trust the BBC to use it wisely. I could choose where it went and could gift aid it. I appreciate it is a lot of money for the BBC to lose but they could make efficiency savings and I doubt I would notice if they used less famous presenters.

I dont watch the BBC or listen to BBC radio so I would rather not contribute to their mishandling of funds with my license fee.My OH tells me if I stop paying it and the van arrives at the door he'll point at me and tell them its nothing to do with him .I do know there are thousands ...and more who dont pay because of BBC bias in the Scottish referendum and the ongoing bias against teh Scottish government so I might join them

I was sent a " free " over 75 TV licence last year-----3 years after them knowing that I'd turned 75.
It's valid from 1st July 2018 until 30th June 2019 ? Do they know something I don't ?

Do you watch any tv paddyann? Apparently you have to have a licence even if you don't watch BBC.
I won't tell, promise.
Sometimes I wonder just what they do with our licence fee money then along comes a gem such as Les Miserables.

However, I think that many are overpaid and we have no say in this.

A friend forwarded an email to me with the below link to sign a letter asking that licences remain free for the over 75's. It is an Age UK initiative as far as I can see.
My concerns are not only the financial implications but also loneliness which is a big factor these days with the elderly living alone.
I hope the link works - if not I am sure there must be some reference on the Age UK website.

campaigns.ageuk.org.uk/page/34622/action/1?ea.tracking.id=356xfiEF

Why does it have to be all or nothing. Could they not give over 75s a 50% reduction and a free licence for those over say 85

Don't get me started.

It is ridiculous that we are all entitled to free tv licence, free prescriptions, wfa, bus passes eye. We could afford to pay for all of those but lots of people can't. There must be a way of allocating these benefits more sensibly e.g. to those receiving pension credit or not to those paying tax at a certain level.

Donating the money to charity isn't really the point imo.

It is not a TV licence. It is a reception licence. At one time, we had to pay if we only had a radio (wireless in those days).
It has not been decided to get rid of it yet. The BBC now has to foot the bill but, has not yet decided how to do it.

Like KittyLester I think all these government freebies should be dropped in return for an upping in the Pension Credit savings level to ensure that poorer pensioners are not out of pocket, then people like me who have a reasonable retirement pension could pay everything in the same way anyone else with a similar income has to pay.

Overall it would probably save money for the government - it might be as much as would pay for 6 more nurses (nice bit of virtue signalling) They would also be able to get rid of all those staff, office buildings and the like necessary for their administration. Should pay for the extra Job Centre staff needed to help all those made redundant to find new jobs.

Signed 38% petition today saying that I'd support means-testing over-75s for free licences.
That way, help would go to those who need it and those of us who can afford to pay will continue to do so.
We have often discussed the possibility of adding the fuel allowance to the state pension meaning that some or all of it might be taxed. Most thought that was a reasonable idea without administrative hassle.
The licence fee is not the same of course, but means-testing would recognise that we don't all need it. Possibly anyone claiming Pension Credits would qualify automatically.

Well, I think the TV licence should be scrapped for all and the BBC should support itself with advertising.

I agree with Niobe, we are so used to adverts on the other channels,it would make no difference i think
I had to fill a form in online to say i was 75, but i am sure no one bothered reading it
In the end i had to ring up, and was then told i could have applied for it 6 months earlier
There are some people who struggle with paying the TV licence who are not pensioners, like the unemployed,and now people on Universal Credit who only get £73 a week to live on

We could claim the free licence but we don't. Worth every penny not to have to watch adverts.

We do not claim the free licence either.

Usually Netflix or Amazon prime that I watch ,I dont see why we should be paying for a STATE broadcaster anyway .Only a fraction of the funds raised in Scotland is spent there ,time we had our own broadcast system

We rarely watch channels with adverts and, when we do, we record or download so we can fast forward the ads. Doesn't everyone?

The reason the BBC is paid for by a license not advertising is that it has a public service remit to make sure that it makes programmes that meet the diverse needs of all communities in the UK, in other words they must produce many programmes that do not have high viewer numbers but meet the needs of communities; ethnic, religious, regional and disadvantaged. many of these are programmes would stop if the BBC had to rely on commercials for their income as they would not attract enough advertisers, or at rates to make them viable.

Correct (as far as I know) that one needs a licence for any television or radio receiving equipment, regardless of for what they are used to receive (?????).

The point that some who receive benefits such as free licences, winter fuel allowance, bus passes etc could afford (and would be willing to pay) for them is a good one, however it would seem that the cost of means testing would negate any savings made.

My mother used to give her winter fuel allowance to charity, and I know of a couple who practically rub their hands when they get theirs, as it goes towards one of their many holidays!

The same couple also religiously claim their bus passes, despite NEVER travelling by bus, because they have a mobility car, pay no road tax, but will take up staff time and resources to get them because "we are entitled to it, therefore we will have it".

*Phoenix, this is why I suggested that it be made through the Pension Credit, PC rates could be increased to cover the cost of the license, plus winter fuel payment, prescriptions, (those on multiple medications could get the season ticket), free bus travel and so on. Cut administration, get the money to those who need it and the better off, like me, no longer get any of these benefits.

Gosh! I was really looking forward to having an extra £150 to splurge next year.
Huff-puff...now what? Make a placard and stand outside the HoP?

Phoenix
Bus passes last for 3 years and can be renewed at a library. It takes 60 seconds including a new photo.
Hardly an outlay on staff as they are already on library duty.