Things you find stressful that other people don't notice.
Being moved along by someone who "wants your place".
How do you acknowledge Easter.
It's been announced that the BBC will go ahead with its planned changes to the free TV licences for over 75s. These licences, funded by the government, for all over 75s will come to an end on 1st August 2020, two months later than initially planned due to the coronavirus pandemic.
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We say: 'Young people are facing the most daunting economic landscape in decades, and in that context Gransnet users don't think well-off pensioners should be getting freebies. However, not all pensioners are well off. In the next few weeks the BBC and the government must embark on a significant effort to raise awareness of the pension credit - currently unclaimed by 40% of those eligible - and ensure that every single person over 75 understands that if they can claim pension credit, they can still get a free licence.' Lara Crisp, Gransnet Editor
It comes down to cost. With an ageing population, it's been estimated by the BBC that it was looking at future costs of over £1bn a year to continue to provide free licences to this demographic. Already the corporation has estimated it is losing £35m a year.
Yes. Under the new scheme, anyone aged 75 or over receiving Pension Credit, will be eligible to apply for a free TV Licence, paid for by the BBC.
If you are in a low-income household, you may be eligible for pension credit. You can find out more from the government website here.
Over 75s have benefited from free TV licences since November 2000.
A TV licence will cost a household £157.50 a year.
For many over 75s, especially those who live alone, watching TV is a connection the outside world, providing them with news, entertainment and information, and and does much to alleviate loneliness. Without it, many are worried that older people who may no longer be able to afford to pay the fee, may spiral into depression or begin to suffer from severe isolation leading to other mental healh issues.
Gransnet users were invited to share their views on the various proposals outlined during the consultation period in February 2019. While there was a range of views overall, the vast majority (over 80% of respondents) felt that option 3 (reforming the concession, so that a concession for older age groups would still apply, but in a different way from at present) was their preferred choice, although there was some disparity in how this should be achieved (i.e. via the options suggested in a) b) and c))
Making the BBC operate in the same way as commercial broadcasters (note that many others cite the fact that there are no advertisements as one of the primary reasons that they like the BBC)
Having advertisements, but also a paid-for ad-free version
Adopt a more modern flexible charging system (“it seems wrong that we can’t watch anything on any channel unless we have a BBC licence”)
Reducing high earners’ salaries to keep the licence free for all over 75s (staff and, especially, performers - this was a recurrent theme)
Contribution from the Government