TV licences: BBC to go ahead with over-75s licence fee changes
Posted: Thu Jul 09, 2020 1:14 pm
The BBC is to go ahead with a plan to end free TV licences for most over-75s, after a two-month delay because of the coronavirus pandemic
That means more than three million households will be asked to start paying the £157.50 fee from 1 August.
Only households where someone receives the Pension Credit benefit will still be eligible for a free licence.
The BBC said the new scheme is "the fairest decision", but the government said it was "deeply frustrating".
The controversial change was originally due to be made on 1 June, and the BBC said the delay had cost £35m a month.
The cost of continuing to provide free licences to all over-75s could have reached £1bn a year over time with an ageing population, according to the corporation.
BBC Chairman Sir David Clementi said the decision had "not been easy", but the broadcaster is under "under severe financial pressure" and a further delay would have had an impact on programmes.
The BBC has previously warned that making no changes would lead to "unprecedented closures" of services.
In March, the corporation put the changes on hold because the pandemic had created "exceptional circumstances" and "now is not the right time".
It has also previously said it must make an extra £125m savings this year as a result of the pandemic, including the cost of delaying the over-75s changes.
The BBC has now said there will be a "Covid-safe" payment system, meaning people can apply online, and there will be a dedicated phone line and support staff.
"No-one needs to take any immediate action, or leave their home, to claim for a free TV licence or pay for one," a statement said.
TV Licensing will write to all licence holders aged over 75 with clear guidance about how to pay, it said.
Almost 1.6 million people claim Pension Credit, according to the latest government figures. Of those, 450,000 have already applied for a free licence.