Thousands of Hartlepool households will lose free TV licences under new changes from this month

Charities and campaigners have said the change will be devastating for many older people – especially as a second wave of Covid-19 could make access to television a “lifeline”.

House of Commons Library analysis reveals there are 3,900 households in the area with someone aged 75 or over who will cease to qualify for a free licence under the new means-tested scheme.

The new rules came into force on August 1 and mean only households with someone in the age bracket who receives Pension Credit will be eligible.

Previously, anyone aged 75 or over was exempt from the charge, which stands at £157.50 per year.

Around 3.2 million households across Great Britain could lose out on the benefit, according to the findings.

The BBC was given responsibility for funding free TV licences as part of a deal with the Government in 2015.

But the corporation says it would cost £745m a year to foot the bill, which it could afford only by shutting down numerous channels and radio stations.

Jan Shortt, general secretary of the National Pensioners Convention, said she would not stop campaigning to have the decision overturned.

She said: “This is devastating for all those people who will now have to find the extra money. We’re particularly concerned about those who are only just over the Pension Credit limit. They’re the ones who are already making difficult decisions about how they spend their money.

“For those people their TV is a lifeline, particularly when we might have a second wave of the coronavirus.”

She added: “We will continue to argue with the Government – it’s their responsibility.”

Across the North East, an estimated 126,990 pensioner households will now need to buy a licence.

A BBC spokeswoman said: “It was the Government who decided to stop funding free TV licence fees for the over-75s. The BBC isn't making any judgements about who is or isn’t poor, as the Government sets the criteria for Pension Credit eligibility.

“Our focus is now on making the transition as safe and easy as possible for all older people.

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