BBC has ‘major weakness’ says Silver Voices Director

BBC TV licence revocation campaigner and Silver Voices director Dennis Reed argued that while people on pension credit are granted an exemption from the TV licence fee payment, this does not protect all over-75s. During an interview with Express.co.uk, Mr Reed suggested the BBC is aware that many people who do live on the poverty line do not sign up to pension credit. He explained this will mean they will pay the new TV licence fee despite scarcely being able to afford to.

He argued that this was a weakness in the system and more needed to be done to combat those who fall through the cracks.

Mr Reed said: “It is a major weakness in the BBC’s system.

“When we talk to them about the fact that people will be sent into relative poverty due to having to pay the licence fee the BBC always come back and say that if someone is on pension credit then that is a measurement of the poverty line and those people do not have to pay the licence.

“It has been well known for years, it has nothing to do with the BBC, that the take-up rate on pension credit is very low for this benefit.”

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Mr Reed highlighted the many reasons why that is and the impact that it ultimately has.

He said: “Some older people are unaware that they can claim pension credit.

“Another group might not have the capacity because they may be suffering from mental illnesses like dementia and they may not have a relative who is able to claim pension credit on their behalf.

“The process for claiming pension credit is incredibly bureaucratic and complicated so that is another off-putting thing for older people.

BBC licence fee: Over-75s have 'had enough' says campaigner

“Obviously, everything is now concentrating on using a computer in order to claim pension credit which is obviously very difficult for some people.

“And fourthly, it is a very old fashioned reason, but I would say pride.

“A lot of people of the older generation, the people in their 80s and 90s, are too proud to claim what they think is a benefit.

“They don’t claim it on those grounds even if it means they are struggling to make ends meet.”

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In response to Mr Reed’s comments, a BBC spokesperson said: “We will continue to do all we can to make the scheme easy to use and safe. 

“So far around 3.3 million licences have been processed which includes 2.6 million paid licences and over 700,000 applications for a free licence funded by the BBC.

“Around 80 percent of this group have now transitioned to the new system and we’re giving customers plenty of time to get set-up as we continue to receive and process applications. 

“We have introduced flexible payment plans that allow older customers to make smaller more regular payments and we have protected the most vulnerable on Pension Credit, the threshold for this is set by the Government.

“We have Covid-safe process in place, Anyone who is unsure should call 0300 790 6151, we would encourage those eligible to apply for Pension Credit.” 

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