Age Scotland says the charge will increase isolation and financial worries for older people.
Plans to charge over-75s for watching TV should be scrapped altogether in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, a charity has said.
The BBC announced last month that it would postpone its planned introduction of the £157.50 licence fee for most over-75s until 1 August, instead of 1 June as originally planned.
However, Age Scotland says there is a “clear need” to extend this deadline to ensure older people do not feel cut off and isolated at home as lockdown restrictions continue.
The charity said hundreds of thousands of Scotland’s most vulnerable people are especially reliant on their televisions now, both for news and company. Switching this off in August, says Age Scotland, would seriously exacerbate loneliness and isolation, as well as create additional stress for those struggling to pay.
The charity’s former chairman, Lord George Foulkes, wrote to the culture and media secretary last month calling for the TV licence change to be indefinitely suspended. A petition from Age Scotland and its sister charity Age UK making the same demand has also received hundreds of thousands of signatures.
Brian Sloan, Age Scotland’s chief executive, said: “We welcomed the BBC’s decision to delay the planned changes, but it’s become clear that a two-month delay is not nearly long enough. With coronavirus restrictions likely to continue for some time, it should be put off at least until the end of the year.
“Older people are disproportionately affected by this deadly virus, with hundreds of thousands isolated in their homes. At an especially lonely time, television is more of a lifeline for them than ever. Many rely on their TV as their main source of news, entertainment and company, and it is often their only connection with the outside world.
“As the most vulnerable group, people aged 75 and over have more than enough to worry about without another big bill, which many simply won’t be able to afford.
“We are appealing to the UK Government to take back control of the licence fee, and do the decent thing by not switching off free TV for older people.”
