Younger people on low income still have to pay BBC licence fee

It is unfair to expect the BBC with its limited budget to cover the cost of what had been a government benefit — the fuel companies do not have to pay for our Winter Fuel Allowances nor the bus and rail companies our Travel Passes.

The BBC will still have to fund the cost of TV licences for those on Pension Credit.

Pension Credit brings the income of a single pensioner up to £173.75 and a couple up to £265.20 per week.

Compare that to the benefit incomes of those under pension age — basic Income Support is £81.90 per week, basic Universal Credit £102 per week, less than that for under 25s, and these people have to pay for their TV licences.

With Covid more and more people of working age are losing their jobs and will discover how little the government expects them to live on.

Those under pension age deserve higher benefits.

Margaret Marshall, Belfast BT8

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