You can get a free TV licence if you are 75 or older and you, or your partner who lives with you, get Pension Credit. The licence covers everyone living at your address. If you are registered blind you can get a 50% discount, and if you live in eligible care or sheltered housing you can get a licence for £7.50.
Key points
✓You can get a free TV licence if you're 75 or older and you get Pension Credit or live with your partner who gets Pension Credit.
✓Free TV licences for everyone aged 75 or over ended on 31 July 2020.
✓A colour TV licence costs £180.00 a year.
✓If you are registered blind, or live with someone who is, you can get a 50% discount.
✓In an eligible care home, supported housing or sheltered accommodation, a TV licence costs £7.50 if you are retired and over 60, or disabled.
Who gets a free TV licence?
You can get a free TV licence if you are 75 or older and you either:
✓Yes: get Pension Credit
✓Yes: live with your partner who gets Pension Credit
The licence covers everyone living at your address. You can apply when you are 74 if you already get Pension Credit, but you still pay for your licence until the end of the month before your 75th birthday.
Why do you need Pension Credit for a free TV licence?
Free TV licences funded by the government for everyone aged 75 or over ended on 31 July 2020. Since 1 August 2020, anyone aged 75 or over receiving Pension Credit is eligible for a free TV licence, paid for by the BBC.
How much is a TV licence, and what are the discounts?
Licence
Who it is for
Cost a year
Standard colour licence
Everyone else
£180.00
Blind concession
Registered blind, or living with someone who is
£90.00
Care home and sheltered housing
Retired and over 60, or disabled, in eligible accommodation
£7.50
Free licence
75 or over and getting Pension Credit, or living with a partner who gets it
Free
The blind concession is 50% of the £180.00 colour licence fee, which is £90.00. A black and white licence costs £60.50.
Can you get a TV licence discount if you are blind?
You can get a 50% discount if you are registered blind or live with someone who is. The licence must be in the blind person's name. If it is not, you can make a new application to transfer it into their name, using your existing TV licence number.
TV licences in care homes and sheltered housing
You can get a TV licence for £7.50 if you live in an eligible residential care home, supported housing or sheltered accommodation and you are either retired and over 60, or disabled. Your housing manager can check whether you qualify and will apply for you.
How to apply for a free or discounted TV licence
You can apply for a free licence online or by phone. TV Licensing's number is 0300 790 6071, and its minicom number is 0300 709 6050. Apply for the blind concession on the TV Licensing website.
If you are 74 and already get Pension Credit, you can apply now. Your free licence starts after the end of the month before your 75th birthday.
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
nidirect gives the same free licence rule for Northern Ireland: you can get a free TV licence if you are 75 or older and you get Pension Credit or live with your partner who gets it. Our benefits guides cover other help in later life.
Only if you are 75 or older and you get Pension Credit or live with your partner who gets Pension Credit. Free TV licences funded by the government for everyone aged 75 or over ended on 31 July 2020.
Know Your Rights UK. "Free TV Licence Over 75 and Other TV Licence Discounts." Know Your Rights UK, https://www.knowyourrightsuk.com/benefits/free-tv-licence