Using ‘since’

I’ve often wondered about the use of the simple past tense after SINCE. Or, rather, this is what I was told at school and that I no longer have the courage to teach my students. Lots of the people you interviewed used alternatively: It’s been … years since I’ve seen him”, or “it’s been two decades since I saw her…”  Are they both correct? Is there any difference? Thanks from a Speak Up reader of the first hour!! Carla.

Technically, it’s “years since I saw him” but you do hear people say “It’s years since I’ve seen him.” There’s no difference in meaning. One is grammatically correct, the other is not but is acceptable.