DearFriend,

I’m sure you heard yesterday that the BBC have decided to press ahead with their plans to remove free TV licences for people over 75 who aren’t on Pension Credit. I hope you received my email about how extremely disappointed I, and everyone at Age UK, is about this news. In that email I promised you we’d be in touch about how you could take action:

We need to make as much noise as possible and call on the the Government and the BBC to urgently find a solution that allows the free licence to continue.

Older people on low incomes have told us that if they have to find £150 plus a year to pay for a licence, they will have to forego some other essential or try to survive without TV at all. This is another kick in the teeth for older people during a terrible year when so many have been battling loneliness, bereavement and the fear created by the coronavirus pandemic.

The Government and the BBC must sit down together and work out a solution to save millions of older people from this upset and distress.

Thank you for all of your support and for staying with us in this fight,

P.S. If you are affected by this change please do share your experience with us by replying to this email. You can also find out more about Pension Credit or contact our advice line if you need support or further information. 

Website: www.ageuk.org.uk/campaigns
Twitter: @ageukcampaigns