MORE than 6,000 pensioner households across Brecon and Radnorshire are at risk of losing their free TV licence.
The BBC is currently consulting on plans to scrap free TV licences for the over 75s and Labour AM Eluned Morgan is urging local residents to respond before the deadline passes.
The Conservative UK Government has devolved responsibility for TV licence policy and the cost to the BBC, which means that from 2020 the broadcaster can decide what to do with the benefit introduced by the last UK Labour Government.
The corporation is currently consulting on a number of options including scrapping the free TV licence concession altogether, raising the eligible age to 80 and means testing it and is seeking comments from viewers and listeners to be returned before Tuesday, February 12.
Eluned Morgan AM said: "Many older people already struggle to make ends meet. The BBC has already announced that the TV licence is due to increase again from April. In rural Wales, isolation amongst older people is a real problem. The Campaign to End Loneliness found that 40% of older people say their television is their main source of company."
Figures requested by the Labour Party from the House of Commons Library show that under each of the changes proposed by the BBC in their consultation, up to 6,410 pensioner households in Brecon and Radnor and 5,250 pensioner households in Montgomeryshire are at risk of losing their free TV licences altogether.
Have your say in the BBC's consultation on their website.