Since August 2020, pensioners are required to cough up £157.50 a year to watch the BBC. Only those over-75s who receive Pensions Credit are now entitled to a free licence. The scrapping of the perk sparked outrage from campaigners who said TV was a lifeline for the elderly and urged the BBC to reconsider. The BBC have been accused of not caring about its reputational damage (Image: GETTY) With the corporation standing firm over the issue despite wide-spread public anger, the BBC has been accused not caring about the repetitional damage it is inflicting upon itself. Dennis Reed, Director of the campaign group Silver Voices, said: "The BBC has obviously proved completely impervious to caving.