Unintended Consequences Of T V Licence Funding Change ...

[sunny-dave]

... looks like someone didn’t think this through properly then ...

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/bbc-plan-to-scrap-free-tv-licences-doesn-t-add-up-says-spending-watchdog-m6dk33q9b?shareToken=734aac2410c93e8ba97f27553cbcfdbb

[ichkeria]

Karma I call it.

[Bobbisox1]

I can't help thinking that the present Government are in such disarray, they can't get anything right

[ichkeria]

It’s a bit much to call it “BBC plan to scrap feee licences” when the BBC has never funded it in the first place

[aelmpvw]

simple answer (thinks a government minister) let's scrap pension credit

[New Judge]

//It’s a bit much to call it “BBC plan to scrap feee licences” when the BBC has never funded it in the first place//

It is the BBC's plan. The responsibility for the funding has been transferred from the government to the BBC. They have decided they cannot afford it and so have scrapped it. How can it be anybody else's plan?

[fiction-factory]

Surely it's a good thing though that more people will be claiming what they are entitled to. The government occasionally has campaigns to raise awareness of entitlements. Whether by design or not, this issue of free tV licences has helped rise awareness of entitlements.

[fiction-factory]

Just to clarify, my post in response to the OP not to the more recent ones

[aelmpvw]

i see your point ff but wasn't it the government's plan to offload the benefit to the bbc to save money?

[THECORBYLOON]

I doubt that it was not considered. A report earlier this year said, "In 2016/17, up to 1.3 million families who were entitled to receive Pension Credit did not
claim the benefit. Up to £3.5 billion of available Pension Credit went unclaimed. On average, this amounted to around £2,500 per year for each family entitled to receive Pension Credit but not claiming"

I have said previously, the hope is that more folk will claim the benefit to get a free licence.

[aelmpvw]

so the move to take away the free tv licences by the government was a philanthropic one? please excuse my cynicism

[Spicerack]

Pension Credit will be phased out, won't it, as UC pensions are phased in?

[THECORBYLOON]

If it allowed the DWP to use more of its budget on benefits rather than paying for TV licences, is that not a positive outcome?

[THECORBYLOON]

Universal Credit is paid to folk who are of working-age.

[Spicerack]

The aBBC used the over 75's licence concession as a bargaining chip in their licence fee negotiations with the government.
Now, they've welched on the deal.

[dannyk13]

Corby , Did the DWP fund the free licences Or was it the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport ?

[Spicerack]

Are you saying there's no Universal Credit Pension, corby?
I seem to have read plenty about it.

[dannyk13]

SR
https://www.gov.uk/universal-credit

[THECORBYLOON]

The DWP is paying for the free licences.

[THECORBYLOON]

Confirmation here, https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/487773/response/1174904/attach/html/2/FOI 2544 Response.pdf.html

[albaqwerty]

The DWP does not pay for anything, neither does the Government, it's taxpayer's money and any government usually messes up the spending of it.