Yorkshire pensioners missing free TV licences by not claiming Pension Credit

A breakdown of unclaimed Pension Credit - which tops up income for struggling older people - highlights that more than 589,000 in Great Britain are missing out.

Data analysed by a poverty charity, Turn2us, shows that a number of retired adults are missing out on payments, potentially worth hundreds of pounds each week, as well as the licence.

On August 1, the BBC introduced a new concessionary TV licence scheme for people aged 75 and over, if they are in receipt of Pension Credit. However, it is estimated that only 61 per cent of people actually claim their entitlement.

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

Turn2us has worked out how many pensioners in each local authority area are not claiming their Pension Credit – with Leeds, West Yorkshire, fifth in the country at 6,769 households - and therefore missing out on the new concession scheme.

This comes after House of Commons Library analysis revealed earlier this year that 33,970 households with someone aged 75 or over in Leeds, the region’s largest city, would cease to qualify for a free licence under the new means-tested scheme.

Across Yorkshire and the Humber, some 53,568 over-75s are not claiming their Pension Credit entitlement - more than 10 per cent of the 499,581 figure for the whole of England.

Anna Stevenson, welfare benefit expert at Turn2us, said: “Pension Credit is a lifeline for older people stuck on low incomes in retirement, and now it is the only route to getting a free TV license. So it is more important, now than ever, to claim it.

“The extra income, and so called ‘passport-benefits’ that Pension Credit unlocks, can go a long way to helping many older people keep their head above water and avoid being pulled into poverty.

"We urge everyone of pension age to use the Turn2us Benefits Calculator and find out if you are entitled to Pension Credit then make that claim.”

Minister for Pensions and Financial Inclusion, Guy Opperman said: “Currently, 1.5 million older people across Great Britain receive extra financial help through Pension Credit.

“But there are still a significant number of older people who might be missing out.

“We’re keen to get the message out there that everyone should claim the benefits they’re entitled to and I would encourage anyone who thinks they might be eligible for Pension Credit to check.”

Pension Credit can be in the name of the licence holder, or in their partner’s name if they are a couple.