BBC Announces Changes to Over-75 TV Licence Eligibility

After almost four years of umming and ahing, toing and froing the BBC has finally decided the fate of the over-75 TV licence.

From June 2020 the "free" TV licence, which is currently provided to every household with at least one occupant over the age of 75, will become means tested. It will only be available to those over-75 households with an occupant in receipt of pension credit.

Research by the House of Commons Library estimates that 3 million existing over-75 TV licence holders would lose their eligibility and be forced to pay the full TV licence fee, currently £154.50, if they wish to continue viewing licensable content.

One would imagine that a significant proportion of those 3 million will object to having to pay for a licence they have become accustomed to receiving for free, which could cause enforcement difficulties for TV Licensing.

Charities including Age UK have said some elderly viewers will be pushed into relative poverty by the decision, with concerns over whether older viewers will be able or willing to prove they are receiving benefits. It is also likely to result in the criminal prosecution of elderly Britons who do not or are not able to pay.

Tony Hall, the BBC Director General, said: "This has not been an easy decision. Whilst we know that pensioner incomes have improved since 2000, we also know that for some the TV licence is a lot of money.

"I believe we have reached the fairest judgement after weighing up all the different arguments. It would not be right simply to abolish all free licences. Equally it would not be right to maintain it in perpetuity given the very profound impact that would have on many BBC services."

A spokesman for the Prime Minister said that the Government was "very disappointed" by the move.

"We've been clear that we expected the BBC to continue this concession. People across this country value television as a way to stay connected and we want the BBC to look again at ways to support older people," the spokesman told reporters.

"Taxpayers want to see the BBC using its substantial licence fee income in an appropriate way to ensure it delivers for UK audiences."

There are currently around 4.5 million over-75 TV licences in force, which cost almost £700 million a year to fund. It is estimated that there will be 1.5 million eligible households when the new rules come into force, resulting in an approximate saving of £470 million a year.

If you're an over-75 due to lose out on the concession, there has never been a better time to adopt legally-licence-free viewing habits.

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