Thousands of pensioners could lose TV licence
Tens of thousands of pensioners in the Black Country and Staffordshire could lose their free TV licences under changes being considered by the BBC.
People aged over 75 could see their free TV licence taken away if proposed changes go through.
Another option is to make the offer available to only those receiving pension credit.
Up to 60,000 people across the region stand to lose out and would have to pay £150.50 for a TV licence.
The scheme is currently funded by the Government but responsibility will switch to the BBC next year.
The corporation says it cannot afford to continue the free licence offer in its current form.
Three million people benefit from the free TV licence across the UK.
If the offer was made available only to those on pension credit, 59,180 in the Black Country, as well as South Staffordshire, Lichfield and Stafford, would lose the entitlement. If the age to be applicable was lifted to 80, 33,800 would lose the licence.
Labour MP for Wolverhampton South East, Pat McFadden, said the Government had failed to deliver on its promise to continue funding the scheme until the end of the current Parliament, scheduled for 2022.
He said: "Free TV licences for older people were introduced by the Labour Government because we understood that when people retire and are earning less, a TV is often an essential.
"The policy saves pensioners £150 a year. The Tories placed the axe over this when they shunted responsibility for it to the BBC.
"They said they would maintain free TV licences until the end of this Parliament but now the BBC is threatening to cut back entitlement, either by raising the age limit or means testing the benefit.
"If they did either of these things, over 2,000 households in Wolverhampton South East could lose out. This is a benefit and should never have been devolved to the BBC. Doing so is no excuse for the Tories to break their manifesto commitment or make people poorer. The Government should stand by their word and ensure old people can keep their free TV licenses."
Walsall South Labour MP Valerie Vaz said the proposed changes were a "terrible blow" for elderly people, that "make a mockery of the Government’s claim that austerity is over".
