Means test for over 75s TV licence doesn't take into account cost of rural living, says CEO

It was announced last week that blanket licences for the over 75s would be scrapped by the BBC. This comes four years after the government announced that the public service broadcaster would take over responsibility for providing the free licences by 2020.

Although those receiving pension credit - a benefit which tops up income and savings falling below a set amount - will still be eligible for a free licence, Hugh Tomlinson, of Age UK South Lakeland, argued that those who live rurally would still be at a disadvantage, when the extra costs for things like transport in these areas were taken into account.

“The research suggests that it costs between 20 and 25 per cent more to live rurally,” he said. “There’s a lot of people who are just under the threshold for pension credit but live rurally, and if that was taken properly into consideration they would be within the boundary.”

Mr Tomlinson argued that television could help to combat loneliness in older people.

“A lot of people living alone - the TV is a vital link to the outside world for many of them,” he said.

He added that a lot of people who were eligible for pension credit don’t claim it anyway.

According to Age UK, two fifths of people who are entitled to this benefit (about 1.2 million pensioners) do not receive it.

The organisation says on its website: “Some don’t know they can claim, many struggle to apply and lots more feel embarrassed about needing help.”

It adds: “Lots of people have struggled throughout their working life to save a little extra for retirement. But that small pot of savings for a rainy day means they don’t qualify for means-tested benefits.

“Others are coping with the costs of ill-health or disability. Taking away their benefits is a cruel blow.”

Nationally, the charity has launched a petition to save free TV licences for over 75s. It has currently reached 547,000 of the 650,000 target and can be found on the Age UK website.