The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), led by Labour MP Lisa Nandy, has responded to calls for free TV licences for all state pension claimants. A campaign for free BBC TV licences for all state pensioners is racing against time with a July 21, 2026 deadline looming.
Petition Progress
The petition currently has 26,000 signatures but needs 100,000 to trigger a government debate. It is only a quarter of the way to the threshold required.
Government Response
The Department for Media, Culture and Sport has responded to calls for the £180 annual licence fee to be scrapped for all state pensioners. Lisa Nandy's department said current concessions would remain until 2027.
The government said: "TV Licence concessions are set out in legislation and are currently available to people who are registered blind or severely sight impaired, as well as to over-75s in receipt of pension credit."
Officials highlighted the Simple Payment Plan extension announced in 2024. This allows struggling households to split payments into manageable monthly instalments.
Future Funding
The BBC Charter Review is considering future funding models for the corporation. The government said it was keeping "an open mind" about new concessions for different household situations.
The cost of providing free licences to all over-75s was estimated at £745 million per annum before changes in 2020.
