To wonder when the BBC news will mention tv licences for over 75s

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Story in the i today says BBC will scrap free licences for most over 75s.

The only person I know over 75 is a millionaire!

I hate to say it because my grandparents are over 75 and mean the absolute world to me, but I think this is a fairer way of doing it.

Absolutely the poorest pensioners should still have one for free, but my grandparents have plenty of disposable income, a mortgage free house, new cars regularly, a holiday home abroad, final salary pension etc. I don’t think even think they think they should be entitled to it for free frankly. Not saying that’s the case for all over 75s but certainly large swathes of the population.

Generational divide is such a thing at the moment. Younger people accuse baby boomers and old people of hoarding assets and wealth and the older people in turn accuse the young of being lazy and expecting the world on a plate. Neither of these view points are true but I imagine the differences in wealth between just the over 75s mirrors that of the whole population. It would be free fairer on all to have the same level of means testing whether you are old or young.

well pinkblanket, become aware of plenty of other over 75s

Its not about being rich, its about the government asking the bbc to pay 462 million a year to subsidise this because they decided they didn't want to anymore.

Thats more than 10 percent of the entire licence fee revenue.

the millionaire elderly that you know will be spending money and buoying up the economy dont concern yourself with that

Well brilliant then they don’t need their licence fee paying for them then?

pride or not that doesn’t change the fact that people not claiming what they are entitled to is the bigger issue. The money they aren’t getting is an awful lot more than the cost of a TV licence so we need to make sure the vulnerable are helped but that doesn’t mean funding things for all

Oh FFS. They aren’t claiming it because they don’t need it! Why are wealthy pensioners even entitled to a state pension when 1 in 4 single mothers under 25 have to use food banks?

We have a ridiculous system where poor young peoples taxes are going to comfortably off elderly people.

No, did you not read that those that are entitled are not claiming.

There have even been cut backs, or threatened cut backs to Meals on Wheels

No, did you not read that those that are entitled are not claiming

Every elderly person is entitled to a state pension even if they are worth millions.

pension credit, they are not claiming pension credit, which would enable a free tv license

We have a ridiculous system where poor young peoples taxes are going to comfortably off elderly people. Well yes! Because that is how a welfare state works. When you are of working age you pay in...

Nowadays it is becoming more and more fucked because of the way employment lawas were dismantled, zero hours contracts, tax credits to balance etc etc. So those of working age both pay in and take out. Blame Gordon Brown for that one! It was his response to a financial crash or two!

Add to that the advances in medical science and people living longer and the issues are plain to see. But pensioners didn't do all of that! Successive governments did and are continuing to do so in order to paper over the cracks.

What is really needed is a full overhaul of the welfare system and employment laws. Which won't be popular as it will inevitably mean that employers will have to pay more, people will get less tax credits and welfare and will have to work more. There is NO OTHER WAY to put more money into the system so that those who cannot work , including pensioners, can be supported adequately.

Ok well they need to claim in then. When I was made redundant after 12 years I didn’t enjoy claiming JSA but it had to be done, I didn’t expect young poor people to fund me because I was embarrassed.

Every elderly person is entitled to a state pension even if they are worth millions. Please, try to see that you are talking at cross puprposes.

Pension and pension credit are two entirely different things.

Well yes! Because that is how a welfare state works. When you are of working age you pay in

Yes I’m fine with a system where people pay in and the money goes to people who actually need it.

Which employment laws did Brown dismantle? Zero hours contracts existed well before the labour government, and those claiming tax credits before the crash is about the same it is now.

His response to the crash saved the UK fro. chaos.

It was in 10pm news last night

I didn’t expect young poor people to fund me because I was embarrassed. Huh? That they are NOT claiming means that 'young poor people' are NOT supporting them. I fact, if you ask, that's one of the reasons many pensioners DO NOT claim. They don't want to be a burden.

Ask me how I know... and I'll tell you tales from a food bank and community charity that will make you cry!

If I’d have been a wealthy millionaire I wouldn’t have claimed JSA for 5 whole weeks after working full time for 11 years. That’s my point. I’m fine with benefits but not for rich people when we have 1 in 4 single mothers under 25 using food banks.

Why is this so controversial?

Problem is easily solved.

The BBC should be funded by advertisers alone like ITV and then the licence fee could be scrapped and no one would need to pay for a licence.

I think you misunderstood, me, Zippee He introduced working tax credits... as a response to the crash.

He increased all other tax credits, vastly increasing the welfare state bill and setting the scene for higher dependency on such credits. He introduced then took away the 10% tax bracket, 22% reduced to 20% - extra taxation on the poorest. A weird mish mash of contradictory moves.

He did some of it in order to allow businesses to be able to continue to emply people on low wages, topped up by tax credits, as UK businesses needed support. But, as with the tax credit system, what should have been only a temporary measure, until the economy picked up, it became more entrenched... now resulting in yet more NMW changes and small insignifcant changes to zero hours contracts, few prosecutions of employers who flout said laws etc etc (think Uber etc).

Selling gold reserves at a stupid time further undermined financial stability.

I am not saying he is the SOLE architect of today's increased dependence on welfare, tax credits etc. But that he had a large hand in laying the groundwork for more recent issues.

And I say that as a once staunch Labour member who is now politically homeless!

You pay less for the bbc directly than you do indirectly for ITV.

It was only brought in under labour, like so many benefits, it's another add on that people think had always been there. Only giving it with pension credit is fair. The winter fuel allowance should be the same - my parents "earn" far more than me due to generous company pensions and they bought their house for around 3 x 1 salary as opposed to 4x 2 salaries now

Why is this so controversial? Because you are leaping around a bit in order to make your point.

Millionaire pensioners won't be legible for pension credit and so won't get a free license and so won't be taking anything from poor young people.

And we don't have people using food banks because of pensioners, rich or otherise. I know this as I work in one, as do a few other MNers.

stucknoue But your parents didn't do any of that deliberately It happened because of an accident of time. Things change, not always for the better.

I have no doubt that some things are harder for younger people nowadyas, other things are far easier. But to blame pensioners, to post some of the more vitriolic shit (not you) that has been posted, and is often posted when such topics come up, is weird, ludicrous and pointless!

Sorry, stuck I didn't re-write that well enough - I am agreeing with you, just doing it badly