Free television licences for over 75s

[Ladymargarethall]

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?

chemenger’s older colleagues must all start work later then, if they’re coming in on their bus passes!

Still have to pay it if you watch anything live, ivykaty - not just BBC Yes, the facts about the license always seem to be misunderstood on such threads.

The license covers all live broadcasts on ALL stations. It is also needed for the BBC iPlayer.

The government relies on the BBC to collect the money.

The BBC gives the money to the government, who then agree to give it back, but that is not written in stone, it could change, any year!

GiantKitten they must do. My uncle was a bus driver and daily had to tell the Twirlies to wait til 9.30

(Busman's joke In Liverpoool at least - Twirly = Too early)

I don’t have a tv, people don’t have to have a tv

Curious - you only need to wait until after 9:30 if the bus pass is being used in a different county to where it was issued, otherwise it’s after 9am.

Where I work we have Hugh parking issues - - OAPs using there pass result in relieving the parking issues and congestion- 5 people on a bus or 5 more people driving cars and then 5 less parking spaces. Multiply that a few times for other workers over 65

Not convinced by free tv licenses, but bus passes are worthwhile. They help older adults keep mobile and active plus reduce the need for a car which has both safety and environmental impact.

Disabled people are getting more and more “perks” (!) means tested now so really I think this should apply to older people.things like tv license, fuel benefit etc should be means tested for all or none.

ivykaty it must depend where you live, as here the first bus you can use our pass on is the 9.35 am, the first after 9.30.

Is it 9.00?

We live in the middle of nowhere, we don't have enough buses in any given for me to have noticed. Though the Tesco bus is always full of older people

By the time I reach retirement age which is 67 isn't it now, there won't be many perks and I've been working since I was 16. There's not much on the television worth watching and you need a licence to download occasional programmes now so they get you either way.

9.30 here for bus passes in your own county. I do agree that bus passes cut down on traffic/parking congestion and in some cases their use keeps some routes viable, as they lead to increased numbers travelling.

Ooh! I checked 9.30am to 11pm on weekdays and at any time at weekends and bank holidays for journeys within England.

Maybe it's different in Wales, Ireland, Scotland?!

Some of our local buses have been withdrawn because they were full of people using bus passes and it wasn't profitable for the company, we're down to one route now which is pretty dire for people who need to get to work, college, shops, appointments. Sainsbury and Tesco stepped up with a free bus twice a week but otherwise it's taxi journeys for most of us early morning, evening and weekends.

It’s 9am here

It’s silly as many buses are half empty between 8am - 9am and it would mean OAPs used buses to get to appointments and instrady they drive and can’t park 🤦‍♀️

Cheeses - the bus companies get paid, the bus pass costs the county council as they have to pay stagecoach

ivykat sssssssssssh! You're not supposed to know that! It spoils all the OAP/Boomer hate!

Stagecoach round here tried that excuse about 5 years ago. 4 local MPs, cross party, called a press conference and told everyone exactly how much money they were getting to provide buses out in the sticks. It was a bit of a revelation and they haven't made the same mistake since!

Scottish bus pass covers the whole country (of Scotland) and can be used on any bus with the exception of night buses.

It can be used within Strathclyde on trains for a very confusing discount after 930 which is not worth having if you have a disabled persons railcard.

ivykat, is that true, they are telling us porkies then. Does anyone lose out financially with passengers using bus passes IYSWIM.

Are county council are going to start providing there own bus services that stage coach are dropping... guess it’s cheaper

Cheesy - see curious post above - yes

ivykaty you aren't in London are you? My cousin gets a free over 60s pass which can be used on Transport for London (trains and buses and trams) and does indeed use it to go to work, but that isn't available outside London.

If the Council are losing out financially is this their reason for cutting back services. The other excuse for our lack of buses is that not enough people use it outside peak hours so they just drop it.

cheesy Between 2008 and 2011 the Department for Transport provided a special grant, totalling just over £650 million, to local authorities to pay for the statutory concession.

researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/SN01499/SN01499.pdf

There's probably a more up to date version somewhere. But they have always been subsidised.

There's also supposed to be a minimum service level. But having lived many years just over 4 miles from the nearest bus stop I'm fairly certain that is easily negotiated away towards community bus services - different funding pot!

Cheeses it’s stagecoach cutting back on services not council - council are then providing there own mini bus service otherwise people will be cut off

Lady - the concessionaire bus pass you get when you can receive your state pension and not at 60, for many now they won’t get an OAP bus pass until they are 65