'It will penalise OAPs' – Thousands back petition to stop over-75s losing free TV licence

Thousands of Staffordshire pensioners are set to lose their free TV licences after the BBC scrapped the concession for over-75s.

Currently all households with people aged 75-plus are entitled to a free licence as part of a Government-funded scheme - something that is expected to cost £745 million by 2021.

The BBC was given responsibility for the scheme, as well as deciding on any future concession, and now says it will charge families with over-75s so long as they don't receive pension credit.

This means thousands of families in Staffordshire will now be faced with the charge to watch live or recorded programmes.

A BBC spokesman said: "The (BBC) board believes this is the fairest option to help the poorest pensioners. It is also the fairest option for all licence fee payers as this means everyone will continue to receive the best programmes and services that the BBC can provide.

"Over 1.5 million households could get free TV licences if someone is over 75 and receives Pension Credit.

"The new scheme will cost the BBC up to £250 million by 2021/22 depending on implementation."

A petition to keep the licence fee free for over-75s has so far been signed by more than 74,000 people across the United Kingdom - including 291 in Stoek-on-Trent.

The petition says the move would 'penalise the poorest old age pensioners, many who rely on their television for company and their main source of entertainment'.

Pensioner Fred Hughes, from Burslem, said: "I heard the BBC director Tony Hall suggested that if they continued to give free licence fees to people over 75 then some elements of BBC 2 and 4 could be removed from the air and that saddens me very much.

"I think people on Pension Credit should receive free licences and wherever possible people like me, even at 81 like myself, should pay if they can afford.

"I value the BBC and their programmes and would prefer them to stay. I love to watch the dramas and documentaries and wouldn't like to see them go away."

Mike Massey, from Stone, says the BBC should pay less on wages or close stations that receive fewer viewers rather than force elderly people to pay.

The 84-year-old said: "I think it is disgusting and I am surprised they didn't do free from 80 because there will be little old ladies at 90 having to pay a licence fee.

"I think they should close down some of their obsolete stations and look at the wages they pay stars such as Gary Lineker. It is an unbelievable amount.

"Another option would be to have adverts and we are used to ads on other stations so why not the BBC? The BBC should be like other stations."

Any over-75s not in receipt of pension credits will remain licence until May 31, 2020. Before that date they will receive a letter from TV Licensing saying they will need to pay for their next licence.

Those receiving pension credits will have to transfer the licence name to the person in the house that is in receipt of the benefit. They will have to send a copy of their Pension Credit letter to claim the discount.

Full information can be found at TV licencing.

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