By Linda Howard
A new online petition is urging the UK Government to fund the TV licence fee for all State Pensioners and those who reach the official age of retirement, which is currently 66. Under the existing rules, only older people over the age of 75 in receipt of Pension Credit currently receive a free TV licence, saving 拢174.50 on the annual fee. Petition creator Michael Thompson argues that 鈥渕any pensioners live on the breadline with only the TV for company鈥. He added: 鈥淲ith 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.鈥 Mr Thompson also said: 鈥淲e 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.鈥 The 鈥楩und free TV licences for all pensioners鈥 petition has been posted on the UK Government鈥檚 petitions-parliament website. At 10,000 signatures of support it would be entitled to a written response, at 100,000, it would be considered by the Petitions Committee for debate in Parliament – you can view it online here. The UK Government has committed to increasing the BBC TV licence fee in line with inflation each year until 2027. The rise from 拢169.50 to 拢174.50 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. 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鈥檚 new chairman. Dr Samir Shah, who took over as chairman in March last year, told the Sunday Times he would be in favour of a more progressive way of paying for the corporation, saying: 鈥淲hy should people who are poor pay the same as people in wealthy households?鈥 Ms Nandy said at the time: 鈥淲e are keen that whatever we do in the charter review that it commands broad public support and that it is progressive. The licence fee is a flat rate. It鈥檚 harder for poorer households to pay it and we鈥檝e seen some horrendous cases where the BBC has prosecuted mainly vulnerable women for not paying the licence fee. 鈥淲e think that鈥檚 completely unacceptable.鈥 Other options suggested for funding the BBC include a subscription model, but Mr Shah said it 鈥渨ould not meet the BBC鈥檚 key role to offer something for everyone in the country鈥. You can check if you need a TV licence on the TV Licensing website here . A TV licence costs 拢174.50. You can pay it all in one go, or: Certain groups are entitled to TV licence discounts such as those who live in care homes, who could get it for free or pay a reduced amount if they are part of an Accommodation for Residential Care scheme – find out more here. People who are registered blind or severely sight impaired are entitled to a half price TV Licence (拢87.25) and may be eligible for a refund on payments made in previous years – if they have been the registered TV licence holder. If you already receive Pension Credit, you can apply for your free over-75 TV Licence when you are 74 years old. TV Licensing will update your payments to cover you until your 75th birthday, at which point you鈥檒l then be covered by your free licence. They will confirm this in writing. If you think you鈥檙e eligible for a free licence but don鈥檛 currently have a TV licence, call 0300 790 6117 and speak to an advisor to request an application form. Lines are open Monday to Friday between 8.30am and 6.30pm.