Would you do this? (Ben Fogle's TV license donation)

[ScrewBalls99]

www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-48607896

Would you do this?

Donate towards over 75's free TV licenses?

I also just think the TV licence should be scrapped but that’s for another thread I guess.

Somebody on a different thread mentioned that their parents were £1 over the PC threshold. I feel bad for unlucky people like that and would hope that Ben Fogle's money would go to them rather than a wealthier over 75.
Personally I would donate if I knew a pensioner in need but not to a random.

I had always understood that the process of means testing for winter fuel allowance would cost more than the saving that would be achieved by not paying the allowance to wealthy pensioners. I'm not sure how it's cost effective now for tv licences?

It wouldn’t be cost effective at all.

Maybe in this age they need to massively cut back on the BBC. Do we really need all of the BBC channels when there are so many commercial broadcasters?

And I would rather the free TV licenses went to disabled people (working age or pensioners) who are more likely living in poverty. Even a lot of working families struggle.

I've opted out of the BBC license fee and watch channel 4 on catch up or Netflix. I'm sure they will close this loophole at some point like they started requiring a license for iPlayer since they are bound to lose a lot of income thanks to people like me.

I still listen to BBC radio Scotland which is a fantastic radio channel and if there was a way to contribute to this alone I would.

Most under-25' are in a lot more poverty than the over 75's. I think it's a disgrace that a 20 year old care leaver, who is struggling on a lot less universal Credit than a pensioner has to pay for their TV licence or risk prosecution , ( as I do agree TV connects you to the world). Think it should be means tested and those with a household income of under 14000 should be exempt. Pensioners are the most spoilt generation though.

Pensioners are the most spoilt generation though.

Evidence?

I think overall it should be scrapped and the bbc should be forced to operate like any other commercial broadcaster.

My GP are not well off at all but as they have a tiny private pension and live in HA home, they don't get pension credits. I've already said I will pay it for them.

Seen whats billed for BBC2 tonight? "Who should get to stay in the UK."

im sure the part of the Windrush generation who are pensioners will enjoy divisive programmes like this especially as some of them will now have to pay for programmes like these!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If they can means test CB they can means test TV licenses and winter fuel allowances.

Those who lost CB have paid loads of tax and NI. Also incorrect to say all pensioners have paid loads of tax and NI, many haven’t paid a penny and none have paid enough to cover their care or their use of the NHS in old age.

CB was very easy to means test as HMRC hold all the data necessary. That isn’t the case with any other non tax related means test. In Wales, they made all prescriptions free because the cost of means testing outweighed the prescription costs.

The BBC is relying on a generation too proud to claim benefits or unaware that they’re entitled to them.

And you’re talking bollocks about care and NHS usage. You do know only the very poorest don’t pay for their care? And some pensioners barely use the NHS?

Many women were told they only had to pay "half stamp"

Are you going to rewrite the whole of history or just the parts that suit your agenda.,

HMRC don't hold the necessary data,you have to declare the need to pay it yourself and fill out a tax self assessment yourself,even when in many cases the CB isn't being paid to you.

I would have thought means testing a group by a benefit some get would be a doddle in comparison.

Of course not. Over 75s are not the financially neediest group in society and there's zero reason for them to be favoured over anyone else in this respect. I support the continued provision for those on pension credit though.

Of course HMRC hold the data, it’s based on gross salary, less pension contributions, and administered by them, ffs.

An 80 year old costs the NHS 5 times as much as a 30 year old. By 75 most people have 1 or 2 chronic illnesses,we are living longer. We will have to put more away for the NHS in our old age,it is struggling to cope at the moment as previous generations didn't put enough towards their old age. We can't do it all. Preparing for our old age and covering all the expenses for the current aging generation particularly when they are enjoying better state and private pensions than we will ever have.

We clearly can't afford universal benefits. If younger generations need to lose their universal benefits so do the elderly.

But those paying it alert them and do all the paper work. They often have no idea if a CB recipient has a household member earning over £40k.

You mean the average 80 year old. My parents both lived to their late 90s, neither of them had a chronic condition at 80, nor at 90.

The biggest users of mental health services are under 30s, so essentially you can select statistics to “prove” anything you want.

As someone has already pointed out, over 75s already receive lower pensions than those in their late 60s.

www.ft.com/content/c69b49de-1368-11e9-a581-4ff78404524e

The elderly really aren't the group most in need of a universal benefit.

I really don't see how covering payment for tv licenses for a group already listed as receiving another benefit will be hard or expensive to administer.

Because a lot of the people entitled to claim pension credit either don’t know they are - it’s not exactly widely publicised - or they’re too proud to claim it. So the people with the most to lose will suffer the most.

I won’t bother with a silly face.

"The biggest users of mental health services are under 30s, so essentially you can select statistics to “prove” anything you want."

Yep And child free women wont use NHS maternity services either.

You sure you want to continue down this road?

I'm sure after all this publicity more be aware of eligibility to apply for pension credit.

" as previous generations didn't put enough towards their old age"

NO SHIT the erosion of workers rights now is appalling BUT low paid jobs arent anything new. Plenty of pensioners did them.

How many MNers who employ cleaners are paying them enough so they can put some of their pay towards a pension.