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Calls are being made for free TV Licences for all pensioners(Image: Getty Images\/iStockphoto)<\/p>\nA TV Licence costs \u00a3174.50 a year but at the moment only older people over the age of 75 in receipt of Pension Credit can get one for freeCalls are being made for free TV Licences for all pensioners(Image: Getty Images\/iStockphoto)<\/p>\n
Calls are being made for free TV Licences to be given to all UK pensioners as many “live on the breadline”. Around 8,335 people have signed an online petition urging the Government to fund the TV Licence fee for all State Pensioners <\/a>and those who reach the official age of retirement, which is currently 66.<\/p>\n Under the existing rules, only older people over the age of 75 in receipt of Pension Credit receive a free licence, saving \u00a3174.50 on the annual fee.<\/a> Petition creator Michael Thompson wrote: “We want the Government to fund free TV licences for existing pensioners and those who reach the official retirement age.<\/p>\n “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.” This comes as new data revealed that food prices have surged at their swiftest rate for 18 months due to soaring costs of chocolate, butter and eggs, as reported by ChronicleLive<\/a>.<\/p>\n The petition <\/a>further adds: “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.”<\/p>\n The \u2018Fund free TV licences for all pensioners\u2019 petition has been posted on the UK Government\u2019s petitions-parliament website. At 10,000 signatures of support it would be entitled to a written response, and at 100,000, it would be considered by the Petitions Committee for debate in Parliament, reports the Daily Record<\/a>.<\/p>\n The UK Government has committed to increasing the BBC<\/a> TV licence fee in line with inflation each year until 2027. The rise from \u00a3169.50 to \u00a3174.50 in April followed years in which the licence fee was first frozen and then increased at a slower rate than the BBC expected, leaving the corporation increasingly cash-strapped.<\/p>\n However, the Culture Secretary has left the door open to wealthier households paying more for their TV licence as she considers alternatives to the annual fee. Earlier this year, Lisa Nandy said she could be open to replacing the flat licence fee with a sliding scale after a suggestion by the BBC\u2019s new chairman.<\/p>\n Who needs to buy a TV licence?<\/p>\n You can check if you need a TV licence on the TV Licensing website here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Can you get a discount?<\/p>\n\n