over 75s TV licence

Thanks fourormore I've just signed the petition.
Many valid points here but I think if it's possible to 'not claim' then individuals can opt out.
It's quality of life for many people - not just over 75's. I can't link it but Caitlin Moran wrote a great piece about large tv screens last Saturday in The Times mag.
're BBC and ads. I hate ads. We watch mostly BBC, well DH, plus some 4. I rarely watch as I use catch up or watch series in Amazon and Netflix with son.

I think it's about perspective. Lots pay for private school and tv and yet pay same taxes as others. Think of greater good etc

Yes, it could happen. They use the excuse that people are living longer. If they can put up the pension age, they can just as easily put up the age where you can get a free licence.

I totally agree with Nonnie’s points.
Although I don’t need either the WFA or my bus pass, financially speaking, it is a good thing that they exist in the form they do. Means testing would cost a lot and deprive many. Using the buses helps keep vital services running for everyone.
The BBC licence is a different matter. It used to be funded by the government but they have now passed the scheme to the BBC, to decide how to operate it. TV is an essential source of company for many, who could not afford it if they had to pay. We will not claim ours when the time comes, if we have a choice, but it needs to be there for those who need it. Surely if we just have an easy opt in system for those who want it, that would work? Mind you, there are lots of people who do not claim Pension Credit even though they are entitled to, so it needs to be really simple, with no stigma attached.

I think the bosses at BBC waste money, pay celebs far too much ,many are millionaires
far too,many repeats ,its just an excuse to waste money,and from a polictical,point of view are very biased
Run it as a business .we desrve to be looked after

Monica has made some very good points.
I do think, however, that the BBC has perhaps taken it’s remit to the extreme. I’m not sure that we need quite so many stations.
I hate watching adverts and would rather pay for the BBC with its faults than Netflix, sky or some other option. I will fess up to having a BT box to give us a good signal and access to more channels.

I have wondered what changed on my 75th birthday to make me eligible for free TV when my income hadn't changed overnight. When I responded to the BBC consultation, I suggested a reduced rate for all over 75s and zero for those in receipt of pension credit.

Two points which I don't think have been made so far:

1 The winter fuel allowance was originally introduced instead of giving a pension increase that year so should be treated as part of the state pension. If it was included it could be taxed but the argument against doing so is that it would then form part of the 'triple lock' and would have to be raised each year.

2 The bus pass presumably costs little to issue and charges only occur when it is used. Obviously they are needed by some but there is another good reason to use it, for the environment. Surely if it encourages people to use public transport instead of their cars it is a good thing?

Rather than the beeb advertising, I'd prefer to pay some sort of subscription if the licence fee were abolished. But it does seem to me that the fairest way to do it would be to increase the state pension to cover the costs. This would then be taxable in the normal way.

Annsixty, that is really unfair. ?

We started receiving the free tv licence last year. It is a nice perk but it woukdn’t bother us if it was stopped. Perhaps just those in receipt of pension credit should receive it and all other over 75s should not.

I would miss my bus pass though as a short trip to town, about a mile, costs over £2.00 each way. We walk when the weather permits it but if the weather is bad it is nice to be able to hop on a bus.

What annoys me is that the BBC pays sickeningly high salaries to some of their staff, Gary Lineker comes to mind, however I doubt they will be so generous to over 75s in need and who rely on their TVs for company.

The concept of TV licences is archaic and should be scrapped . The BBC could use advertising or become a subscription service. I like BBC radio and some TV and I would happily pay a subscription , people are happy to pay for Netflix, Amazon, Sky.

You’re right to highlight this ann. There will be many, many people in your situation or experiencing different pressures for whom the loss of a television licence, a bus pass or winter fuel allowance would feel and be punitive. On accessing the BBC website to complete their poll I thought the suggestions for change all risked disadvantaging someone, particularly those in the ‘just managing’ group.

I’m probably in a minority on this thread as I believe the removal of bus passes, free television licences and winter fuel allowance would be a retrograde step, adversely impacting the wellbeing of many people who qualify through age but do not meet criteria for means tested benefits. If change has to happen then my preference would be for the value of the wfa and tv licence to be added to the state retirement pension as the taxation system would ensure those who pay income tax would not fully benefit. Bus passes are a weapon to combat social isolation and as such should be ring fenced.

No annsixty it is not.
Why should there be discrimination on the grounds of which illness we may get?

That’s awful ann60 ?

Until now my H and I have had a comfortable income.
Until recently we have not used buses and have given our winter fuel allowance to charity every year.
Yes we have claimed the tv licence fee.
However now my H is in a care home and I am expected to pay full fees because his illness is dementia, not cancer or any other life threatening illness.
He will die from his dementia but I will pay until he does.
This means I myself will have to claim benefits as soon as my savings run out.
Will I claim my " rights" to tv licence bus pass, anything else? You can bet I will.
My H payed into a superannuation scheme for 40 years and paid a larger percentage so that I could have a pension if he died first.
I am now told that was all for nought. They still want the whole of that pension and the state pension , I have been told by Age UK that I am entitled to some of that pension but that SS will try to tell me I am not and I will have to fight it.
Not really playing fair is it?

I prefer BBC TV. I don't subscribe to Amazon Prime OR Netflix. A waste of money IMO.

Phoenix
Bus passes last for 3 years and can be renewed at a library. It takes 60 seconds including a new photo.
Hardly an outlay on staff as they are already on library duty.

Gosh! I was really looking forward to having an extra £150 to splurge next year.
Huff-puff...now what? Make a placard and stand outside the HoP?

*Phoenix, this is why I suggested that it be made through the Pension Credit, PC rates could be increased to cover the cost of the license, plus winter fuel payment, prescriptions, (those on multiple medications could get the season ticket), free bus travel and so on. Cut administration, get the money to those who need it and the better off, like me, no longer get any of these benefits.

Correct (as far as I know) that one needs a licence for any television or radio receiving equipment, regardless of for what they are used to receive (?????).

The point that some who receive benefits such as free licences, winter fuel allowance, bus passes etc could afford (and would be willing to pay) for them is a good one, however it would seem that the cost of means testing would negate any savings made.

My mother used to give her winter fuel allowance to charity, and I know of a couple who practically rub their hands when they get theirs, as it goes towards one of their many holidays!

The same couple also religiously claim their bus passes, despite NEVER travelling by bus, because they have a mobility car, pay no road tax, but will take up staff time and resources to get them because "we are entitled to it, therefore we will have it".

The reason the BBC is paid for by a license not advertising is that it has a public service remit to make sure that it makes programmes that meet the diverse needs of all communities in the UK, in other words they must produce many programmes that do not have high viewer numbers but meet the needs of communities; ethnic, religious, regional and disadvantaged. many of these are programmes would stop if the BBC had to rely on commercials for their income as they would not attract enough advertisers, or at rates to make them viable.

We rarely watch channels with adverts and, when we do, we record or download so we can fast forward the ads. Doesn't everyone?

Usually Netflix or Amazon prime that I watch ,I dont see why we should be paying for a STATE broadcaster anyway .Only a fraction of the funds raised in Scotland is spent there ,time we had our own broadcast system

We do not claim the free licence either.