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Original poster

Free television licences for over 75s

78 replies

Ladymargarethall · 01/12/2018 12:41

Just interested to know what others think.
Apparently it was introduced when there was a big problem with pensioner poverty. I know some pensioners struggle, but should it be offered free to everyone just because they are a certain age?

OP posts:
zenasfuck · 01/12/2018 12:43

They've paid their dues, let em have a tv licence because they get very little else

joystir59 · 01/12/2018 12:44

I love them cos we have 85 yr old wife's mum living with us.

formerbabe · 01/12/2018 12:44

They've paid their dues

What about one's who haven't?

joystir59 · 01/12/2018 12:45

i mean wife's 85 yr old mum LOL!

AdaColeman · 01/12/2018 12:47

There is every likelihood that this will be discontinued within the next couple of years, as the BBC has been forced to absorb the cost themselves and are not happy about it.

RiverTam · 01/12/2018 12:48

My mother is minted, she doesn't and never has needed a free TV licence, nor does dge think she should have one.

BarbaraofSevillle · 01/12/2018 12:51

They've paid their dues, let em have a tv licence because they get very little else

Except considerably more in pensions than anyone younger than mid 60s currently.

Plus most women pensioners won't have 'paid their dues' as many have been SAHPs or part time workers.

Jengacritical · 01/12/2018 12:51

It should be means tested, and bus passes as well.

Bunnymumma · 01/12/2018 12:52

My PIL are tight as assholes and this is the one perk they get. Let them have it I say, if it means there are less oldies on the roads (I'm joking here but you know what I mean!).

Original poster
Ladymargarethall · 01/12/2018 12:54

River Tam you don't have to claim it.
The BBC have launched a consultation.

OP posts:
llangennith · 01/12/2018 13:01

A more accurate reason is that when it was introduced most people were dead before they reached 75.

ForalltheSaints · 01/12/2018 13:16

The withdrawal I think of government funding has been done out of spite to the BBC, not for any other reason. Not sure which member of the government they offended.

CecilyNeville · 01/12/2018 13:17

There are a chunk of financial enhancements that were only introduced in the last Blair/Brown era (TV licenses, bus travel, winter fuel allowance, triple lock pensions), but now that people have become used to them, they are very hard to remove. We saw the uproar at the Tories' manifesto at the last General Election, when they proposed altering the model for paying for social care.

I can't see why means testing is seen as unfair; these are huge expenses (a fifth of the BBC budget goes on this - same as all radio content). There's a case for higher taxation more broadly, and better universal 'benefits' ( maybe a more Scandinavian model) but benefits that disproportionately enrich one group in society, regardless of the recipients' personal wealth and income, are hard to justify. Other than that older people are the most likely to vote!

Dowser · 01/12/2018 13:19

By the time I get to 75 there will be nothing worth watching anyway

ForalltheSaints · 01/12/2018 13:20

Dowser when is your 75th birthday next year?!!!

NotDavidTennant · 01/12/2018 13:21

A more accurate reason is that when it was introduced most people were dead before they reached 75.

It was only introduced in 2000. I don't think life expectancy was quite that bad 18 years ago.

recently · 01/12/2018 13:24

I think they should be scrapped as the government shouldn't force the BBC to subsidise them. I think the licence fee is on its way out though.

Original poster
Ladymargarethall · 01/12/2018 13:24

Dowser possibly true, but the BBC say they can make better programmes if they stop losing this chunk of money.
Llangenith It wasn't introduced that long ago - about 2000 I think, so a lot of people were already living way beyond 75.

OP posts:
Cachailleacha · 01/12/2018 13:25

They should either be means tested or have everyone pay the same.

GiantKitten · 01/12/2018 13:28

Who would do the means testing - if it’s the BBC who are paying for the free licences, presumably it would have to be them? I assume they wouldn’t have access to tax records so how would it be done, & how much would it cost?

If the govt started means testing the winter fuel allowance (which they really should IMO) then it could be tagged on to that I suppose.

onedayiwillmissthis · 01/12/2018 13:33

Licence should be abolished.

Problem solved. No-one can then complain about older people getting any 'perks'.

MrsApplepants · 01/12/2018 13:34

No, all of it, bus passes, winter fuel allowance and TV licences, all should be means tested.

joystir59 · 01/12/2018 13:39

I take it you are young MrsApplepants? You will not possibly realise that a) old people do not claim means tested benefits- they simply do without, and means tested benefits are expensive to administer b) free bus passes, winter fuel allowance and free TV licences keep older people active, connected and warm and are a life saver for millions of pensioners and save the NHS millions of pounds. People living on a state pension deserve this help, and just wait until you are in your sixties- you will feel differently then.

Original poster
Ladymargarethall · 01/12/2018 13:59

I am in my 60s joystir and I know lots of people in their 60s and 70s who, like me, are quite comfortably off.
I think means testing is a good idea, or raising the age at which people can claim a free television licence to 80.

OP posts:
joystir59 · 01/12/2018 14:26

Means testing is expensive and pensioners are notoriously bad at claiming what they are entitled to. And lots of them live on the state pension and are not well off

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