Pensioners punished by BBC as it could scrap free TV licences for over 75s
FEARS have been raised that the BBC will force millions of over 75s to pay for their TV licence.
The BBC may force millions of over 75s to pay for their TV license
The Corporation is set to take over responsibility for free licences for the elderly in 2020.
If the BBC does not restrict the £147-a-year benefit, it faces losing £750million in revenue.
Influential broadcaster Lord Bragg, 77, who voluntarily pays his licence fee as part of a campaign to get the elderly to pay, is leading pressure for means testing.
The Corporation will take over responsibility for free license for the elderly in 2020
Meanwhile film director Lord Putnam, 76, has claimed it would be “silly” to not consider means testing.
Former culture secretary John Whittingdale, who negotiated handing over responsibility for the benefit to the BBC, has also appeared to give his backing to the proposal.
Mr Whittingdale provoked anger for his watered down review of the BBC’s Charter which allows it still to effectively tax most of the population.
Lord Bragg is leading pressure for means testing
He said: “I can see a case for means testing on the same grounds of why should a rich retired person get a winter fuel payment, so why should they get a free TV licence?
They could get rid of the free TV licence altogether if they chose to do so
“You could restrict it to households who only contain people over 75 or means test it, which is now administratively a bit easier because we are going to have to do it for winter fuel payments.
"But these are matters for the BBC to consider. They could get rid of the free TV licence altogether if they chose to do so but they could not do it until 2020.”
Former cabinet secretary Lord O’Donnell chairs a consultancy Frontier Economics which the BBC has asked to look at options.
John Whittingdale has also appeared to give his backing to the proposal
John Whittingdale announces TV licence price increase
In a statement, the consultancy said: “The Digital Economy Act transfers control over free TV licences to the BBC in June 2020 – the BBC has no plan to make any changes to the current over-75s policy.”
In 2015-16 free licence fees for the elderly cost the tax payer £622million – almost as much as the entire cost of national and local BBC Radio.
At present one in six households receive the benefit regardless of income.