Pensioners could claim free TV Licence and save £159 a year - are you eligible?
A FREE TV Licence could be available to pensioners who are over 75 if they meet certain criteria.
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A television licence is an annual fee which many people are loathe to pay, but some Britons may not have to fork out for one at all. By meeting certain eligibility requirements, certain groups of people may be able to get their TV Licence discounted, or even for free.
The cost of a TV Licence is currently £159, which could be a significant saving for anyone eligible to get their licence for free.
There are various ways people could be entitled to a free TV Licence, providing they meet certain criteria.
People over a certain age may be able to get the fee paid for in full.
Those who are blind or live in residential care could be eligible for a discounted TV Licence.
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Free TV Licence for over 75s
Over 75s may be able to get a free TV Licence if they either:
- Get Pension Credit
- Live with a partner who gets Pension Credit
One TV Licence covers everyone at an address, so a household will only need to claim for one free licence between them if one of both of them is eligible.
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Something to note is that people hoping to get a free TV Licence when they are 75 do not have to actually wait until then to put in their claim.
People can apply when they are 74 if they already get Pension Credit, so when they turn 75, they will begin receiving a free licence straight away.
However, they will still need to pay for their licence until the end of the month before their 75th birthday.
Pension Credit is one of the primary ways people can get a free TV Licence, but there are believed to be a large number of people who are eligible for Pension Credit but have not claimed.
With financial benefits on offer such as the free TV Licence as well as many other perks, it may be worthwhile for pensioners to find out whether they are eligible for Pension Credit.
People in residential care
Those who live in an eligible residential care home could get a special TV Licence for just £7.50.
This discount would mean claimants save £151.50 each year on their licence.
To qualify, someone must be either:
- Retired and over 60
- Disabled
To make things easier, the housing manager of a residential care home can apply on behalf of the claimant.
People who are registered blind
Those who are registered blind or live with someone who is can get a 50 percent discount on their TV Licence.
This would cut the cost down to just £79.50 for the year.
The licence must be in the blind person’s name in order to be discounted, but it can be transferred to their name if it is not already.
People will need to provide their existing TV Licence number if they wish to do this.
How to apply
People looking to apply for a free TV Licence can do so online or by phone.
The TV Licensing phone number is 0300 790 6071.