The BBC’s plan to scrap free TV licences for the over 75s has sparked a huge backlash, with one pensioner calling it “another nail in the coffin” for the working classes.
Under the new scheme announced today, over-75s will have to start paying TV licence fees from June 2020, unless at least one member of their household receives pension credit.
This means around 3.7 million households which previously received a free licence will have to pay for one, including Thomas Pevitt, 77, and his wife, 78, who is registered blind.
Mr Pevitt, who is a retired joiner, said the change to TV licencing had come alongside increases to other bills, and called the move “another nail in the coffin" for living costs.
He said: "Countless things, little bits and pieces... have all gone up in price.
"It will impact. Well, I think the working classes have been hit by this Government left, right and centre... Austerity only affects the working classes, it doesn't affect the rich in any way, shape or form."
Mr Pevitt, who retired 11 years ago, explained that he and his wife currently don’t pay the fee because they’re both over 75. But neither of them receives pension credit, so they will be affected when the new scheme comes into effect.
The BBC decided that means-testing pensioners and giving free licences only to those on pension credit was the fairest way to implement the changes, following a public consultation.
The broadcaster argued that continuing to fund licences for all over-75s would have resulted in unprecedented closures, including the end of BBC Two, BBC Four, the BBC News Channel, the BBC Scotland channel, Radio 5 Live, and a number of local radio stations, as well as other cuts and reductions.
Chairman of the BBC Sir David Clementi said: "Linking a free licence for over-75s to pension credit was the leading reform option. It protects the poorest over-75s, while protecting the services that they, and all audiences, love.
Read More
"It is the fairest and best outcome. It is one we can implement and endorse. This is an outcome that is the fairest possible in difficult circumstances."
Prime Minister Theresa May's official spokesman said the Government was “very disappointed” with this decision.
"We have been clear that we expected the BBC to continue this concession. We want the BBC to look again at ways of supporting older people," he added.
All people who are found to be ineligible for a free licence will have to pay £154.50 a year for a colour television and £52 a year for a black and white television.
