Key free pensioners TV licence update as DCMS issues 'new concessions' statement

Key free pensioners TV licence update as DCMS issues 'new concessions' statement Government officials responded saying it was considering changes after support soared for all people over 66 to be given it for free The Government has given a big update to campaigners pushing for all people who get a state pension to be given free television licences. The Department for Culture Media and Sport has issued a new statement on the issue - and admitted it was ‘keeping an open mind’ for ‘new concessions’ for households. Now more than 20,000 people have signed up to the call, which can be read here. This year the standard UK TV Licence rose to £180 per year. A black-and-white only licence costs £60.50. To get a free TV licence as a pensioner in the UK, the person or their partner at the same address must be aged 75 or older and either must be receiving Pension Credit. If the petition gets to 100,000 signatures it will be considered for a Parliamentary debate. Universal free TV licences for 3.7m pensioners aged 75 and over officially ended on July 31, 2020. At the time the BBC said funding free TV licences for all over-75s would have resulted in ‘unprecedented closures’. The petition says: “We want the Government to fund free TV licences for existing pensioners and those who reach the official retirement age. When people reach retirement age, we think they should receive a state-financed free TV licence. “Many pensioners live on the breadline with only the TV for company. With the cost of food soaring and utility bills ever higher, we feel there is a desperate need to provide all pensioners with at least this concession. “We feel it is a double outrage that those who have given their all to this country in taxes and raising children have to pay a TV licence fee and are only exempt if they receive means-tested Pension Credit. Meanwhile, some media figures draw huge salaries.” The Department for Culture, Media & Sport said: “There are a number of TV licence concessions available, including for over-75s in receipt of pension credit. There is no BBC concession to provide free TV licences for all pensioners at this time. “TV Licence concessions are set out in legislation and are currently available to people who are registered blind or severely sight impaired, as well as to over-75s in receipt of pension credit, and people living in qualifying residential care who are disabled or over 60 years old. The Government is committed to the current licence fee and its available concessions for the remainder of this Charter period, until the end of 2027.” On the issue of potential changes it said: “We are also keeping an open mind about new concessions and are considering a range of options to better account for different household situations. As set out in the Charter Review Green Paper, we do not plan to remove any existing concessions. “We also do not plan to revisit the decision on over-75s licences as the BBC provides a concession for over-75s on pension credit which targets those most in need of support. It was estimated the cost of the TV licence concession for all over-75s could reach around £745 million per annum prior to its amendment in 2020.” To read the petition, support it and see the full extensive response, click here.