Free TV licence scheme extended for over-75s

People over the age of 75 on the Isle of Man will continue to receive a TV licence for free for the next two years after the government extended its funding commitment.

The move came as the Age-related TV Licence Fee Concession Scheme 2020, which currently covers about 5,000 households, was due to expire on 31 December.

The initiative applies to those over 75 who do not qualify for income support and therefore are not eligible for the BBC's concession scheme for those who are.

Treasury Minister Alex Allinson said that the decision had been made in order to "provide certainty for households”.

Allinson said, as the BBC’s Royal Charter was due to expire at the end of 2027, the treasury would contact the corporation to ask for details of its future policies and continue to monitor any further developments.

The UK government announced it would stop funding free TV licences for those over 75 in 2020, with a transition period ending in 2021.

The BBC then agreed to issue free licences to those over that age who were receiving pension credit, a move that was then extended to about 500 people of the same age on the island in receipt of income support.

However, the Isle of Man government has continued to fund free TV licences for people over the age of 75 not on income support at a cost of £850,000 annually.

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