Government issues update to all pensioners after TV licence petition reaches milestone

Government issues update to all pensioners after TV licence petition reaches milestoneHundreds of thousands of people have signed a petition warning that UK pensioners are 'living on the breadline'. Share Article Share Article Facebook X LinkedIn Reddit Bluesky Email Copy Link Link copied Bookmark Add us as preferred source Comments By Eleanor Burleigh 12:03, Wed, Jun 3, 2026 Updated: 12:03, Wed, Jun 3, 2026 The petition is calling for all pensioners to receive state-funded TV licences (Image: Getty)The Government has issued a major update in response to a petition calling for all pensioners to be given free TV licences. Over 20,000 people have now backed the appeal, which warned that "many pensioners live on the breadline with only the TV for company". window.scriptsToLoad.push({url:'https://live.primis.tech/live/liveView.php?s=118222&vp_content=plembed3a6btjknzwqh&cbuster=%%CACHEBUSTER%%&playerApiId=v118222',triggeredBy:'tcfLoaded',delay:1500,containerId:'ovp-primis',title:"Primis player",beforeLoad:()=>{window.top.addEventListener('primisPlayerInit',e=>{try{if(e.detail&&e.detail.playerApiId==="v118222"){if(window.document.getElementsByClassName('jwplayer')[0]){e.detail.float('disable')}}}catch(e){}})},}) Petition starter Michael Thompson said: "With the cost of food soaring and utility bills ever higher, we feel there is a desperate need to provide all pensioners with at least this concession." Retirees who are aged over 75 and receive means-tested Pension Credit are already exempt from the fee, which was hiked to an annual £180 this year. Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT Get the day's biggest headlines in UK and World news and more Subscribe Invalid emailWe use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our Privacy PolicyMr Thompson said: "We feel it is a double outrage that those w...