Thousands of older people in Wales will lose out when free TV licences are scrapped for people over 75.
Across the UK, up to 3.7 million pensioners who previously received a free TV licence will now have to pay for it.
Research by staff of Cardiff West MP Kevin Brennan has shown that in Wales, it will impact 159,340 households, costing them £23,980,670.
Free TV licences for over-75s were introduced in 2000 as part of a government programme to reduce pensioner poverty however responsibility for the policy and funding of licence fee concessions was given to the BBC.
The BBC said it could not continue to fund the scheme as it is today while the number of pensioners continues to grow. In 2020 it is estimated there will be around 4.6 million households eligible for the over-75s scheme.
The BBC posted a tweet which explained: "From June 2020 any household with someone aged over 75 who receives pension credit will be eligible for a free TV licence funded by the BBC.
"This means: Those least able to pay will still get a free licence. Viewers and listeners will still receive the best programmes and services that the BBC can provide."
Mr Brennan said: "Some people are blaming the BBC but this is, simply, the Government outsourcing its social policy to an unelected organisation.
"In their manifesto, they promised to keep this benefit for the full Parliamentary term.
"The problem is that there's a number of people in this age category who live alone and this is their principle barrier against loneliness.
"This is pickpocketing pensioners' and breaking a promise".
How many people in each Welsh constituency will lose out:Aberavon
Households affected: 3,170
Cost: £477,085
Aberconwy
Households affected: 4,060
Cost: £611,030
Alyn and Deeside
Households affected: 4,140
Cost: £623,070
Arfon
Households affected: 2,410
Cost: £362,705
Blaenau Gwent
Households affected: 3,080
Cost: £463,540
Brecon and Radnorshire
Households affected: 5,090
Cost: £766,045
Bridgend
Households affected: 4,640
Cost: £698,320
Caerphilly
Households affected: 3,700
Cost: £556,850
Cardiff Central
Households affected: 2,690
Cost: £404,845
Cardiff North
Households affected: 4,940
Cost: £743,470
Cardiff South and Penarth
Households affected: 3,830
Cost: £576,415
Cardiff West
Households affected: 3,550
Cost: £534,275
Carmarthen East and Dinefwr
Households affected: 4,500
Cost: £677,250
Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire
Households affected: 4,980
Cost: £749,490
Ceredigion
Households affected: 4,530
Cost: £681,765
Clwyd South
Households affected: 3,290
Cost: £495,145
Clwyd West
Households affected: 4,800
Cost: £722,400
Cynon Valley
Households affected: 3,120
Cost: £469,560
Delyn
Households affected: 3,810
Cost: £573,405
Dwyfor Meirionnydd
Households affected: 3,980
Cost: £598,990
Gower
Households affected: 5,300
Cost: £797,650
Islwyn
Households affected: 3,510
Cost: £528,255
Llanelli
Households affected: 4,300
Cost: £647,150
Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney
Households affected: 3,220
Cost: £484,610
Monmouth
Households affected: 6,320
Cost: £951,160
Montgomeryshire
Households affected: 4,090
Cost: £615,545
Neath
Households affected: 3,770
Cost: £567,385
Newport East
Households affected: 3,770
Cost: £567,385
Newport West
Households affected: 4,090
Cost: £615,545
Ogmore
Households affected: 3,330
Cost: £501,165
Pontypridd
Households affected: 3,530
Cost: £531,265
Preseli Pembrokeshire
Households affected: 4,850
Cost: £729,925
Rhondda
Households affected: 3,060
Cost: £460,530
Swansea East
Households affected: 3,120
Cost: £469,560
Swansea West
Households affected: 4,090
Cost: £615,545
Torfaen
Households affected: 3,680
Cost: £553,840
Vale of Clwyd
Households affected: 3,970
Cost: £597,485
Vale of Glamorgan
Households affected: 5,490
Cost: £826,245
Wrexham
Households affected: 3,390
Cost: £510,195
Ynys Môn
Households affected: 4,150
Cost: £624,575
