End of free tv licence for over 75's

Spangler, I see no reason why we should not pay NI as well. All you do is increase PC to compensate the less well off.

It won’t affect me as I won’t be 75 for a few years, but to be honest I think it’s fair enough that over 75s should pay the same as anyone else, unless they’re on Pension Credit.
However the question of a state tax on television watching is another thing altogether, particularly given some of the ridiculous salaries earned by some of their so called stars!

Confirms my resolution never to go near a golf club except for weddings and wakes.

Crikey, I wonder how many of those self righteous golf club members who refuse to pay their TV licence tell others that if they can't feed their children they shouldn't have them? A couple of gin and tonics at the golf club, let alone the membership and green fees would pay a month's dd on a tv licence, get over yourselves.

grumppa and GilT57: I refer you to my earlier post at 08:50.

I am not sure I understand your post of 08:50 Bodach, are you criticising golf club members as 'Daily Mail readers' or inferring that I am?

Granny23 I have had a letter for my brother this morning asking him to pay for his free Over 70 TV Licence he is now in a Care Home, I phoned and it seems he might have to pay for TV in his room. He might have to pay £7.50 or full amount depending on the Care Home I am waiting to hear back.

The one million plus salary that Gary Lineker gets from the BBC would pay for a fair few television licenses for those on Pension Credit.

So many older people are leaving themselves short now that they have to pay for a TV licence.
My next door neighbour is 84 and he now has to pay for his licence he does not receive any other benefits and only has his state pension I cannot talk him around to try for Pension Credit and I am sure he is entitled to it he is just too proud to claim it,I am sure there are many more like him.

glammanana
This proves the point I made. How Gary Lineker has the brass nerve to accept a one million plus salary from the BBC whilst pensioners like your neighbour are going without in order to ensure that GL and others get paid their inflated salaries is beyond me. In principle I think it’s fair enough that older people pay for their television licenses in the same way as other people do, but there are people who will fall through the cracks, and your neighbour is one of them.

I wonder how many people are too proud to apply for pension credits. When Mil died we were appalled to discover how little she was living on. She was one of the old brigade who wouldn't dream of disclosing her financial situation or asking for any benefits at all.

lindiann

Granny23 I have had a letter for my brother this morning asking him to pay for his free Over 70 TV Licence he is now in a Care Home, I phoned and it seems he might have to pay for TV in his room. He might have to pay £7.50 or full amount depending on the Care Home I am waiting to hear back.

It has never been free to over-70's. The age for the free licene was always over-75. If someone is on Pension Credit they still do not pay - BBC will continue to pick up that cost as government will not. #Gammanana, if your next door neighbour is in receipt of full State Pension then he will not be eligible for Pension Credit.
-Yes, this is a very under-claimed benefit, but only tops up any monies received to that of the amount of the State Pension.

I'm sorry you don't understand my post. Let me express it another way:
1. In my experience, the only thing which most golf club members have in common is an interest in golf, and a desire to play it regularly.
2. Despite this, golf clubs are often portrayed (by those with a particular axe to grind) as dens of class-ridden elitism, populated by smug Daily Mail-reading etc etc members.
3. This entirely false premise has been repeated so often that it has become embedded in our national psyche - an unconscious bias, perhaps?
4. So, if I read about someone saying (for example) "I don't like custard, and neither do my pals", I would be unable to infer anything about the speaker or his/her pals beyond their shared dislike of custard.
5. However, if I read "I don't like custard, and neither do my pals at the golf club" I tend to suspect that I am being invited by the author to infer that most if not all smug, Daily Mail-reading etc etc people don't like custard.

Hope that helps.

Sorry; that was for GilT57.

Franbern I meant over 75

He is 78

We always say that older people are as sensible and as capable of running their lives as anyone else. If some of them choose through a false sense of pride, to live in poverty and discomfort, then that is their choice.

I am in my late 70s and I cannot remember a time when people did not pay NI towards the NHS and pensions, or when we did not know that as a society we paid taxes among other things to support those in society in their time of need and accept it when we were in that group.
for Age Concern(a was) as a home visitor and benefits advisor for many years and did meet a few people who thought that, it was demeaning to claim benefits, but all but a very few were amenable to reason and once the realised the relationship between the NI and tax payments they paid when they were working and benefits available to them in old age most were glad to apply for them.

Nveertheless, there were a few who would never admit to physical or financial difficulties and others who had amassed savings, some quite substantial, to help them when the needed it in old age, but would not touch it, in case they needed it later. All one can say to these is that, if they are in their right mind and refuse to see reason and apply for benefits they are entitled to, then that is there choice and we must accept it.

It would seem that they are not bothered if you are without a licence. I paid for mine August and the money came out of the bank, so I have the statement to prove it, but I have never received the licence. I had forgotten about it but when I heard the comment it reminded me.

Sparkling

It would seem that they are not bothered if you are without a licence. I paid for mine August and the money came out of the bank, so I have the statement to prove it, but I have never received the licence. I had forgotten about it but when I heard the comment it reminded me.

Perhaps you ticked not to receive paper copies. Check on line if you did.

If you can afford the fees at a golf club you can afford to pay for a TV licence.
Near to where I live minimum fees are £600 a year. Then cost per game.
And that is the cheapest. The top golf course is £1600 plus each game.

Sparkling I’m in the same situation as you I paid in Sept and have my bank statement to prove it but nothing else
I was 75 this year so it should have been my first free year ?

Hi, BlueBelle and Sparkling, they haven't provided paper licences for a good few years now.