State pensioners who receive Pension Credit from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) are eligible for a TV licence reduced to £0. If you already receive Pension Credit, you can apply for your free licence when you reach 74 years old.
How to get your free TV licence
TV Licensing states: 'We'll update your payments to cover you until your 75th birthday, and then you'll be covered by your free licence. We'll confirm this in writing.'
If you are blind (severely sight impaired) and can provide appropriate evidence, you are eligible for a 50% concession. Once your blind application is accepted, you can then apply for a free TV licence.
Check if you qualify for Pension Credit
If you do not currently receive Pension Credit but think you may be eligible, it is worth checking. Pension Credit tops up your retirement income, and seven out of ten eligible pensioners already receive it. The average payment is over £83 per week. You might be eligible even if you have a pension, savings, or own your home.
Pension Credit not only entitles you to a free TV licence but can also help with housing costs, heating bills, Council Tax, NHS dental care, and more.
How to apply
To check if you can get Pension Credit, call the DWP on 0800 99 1234 (open 8am to 6pm) or visit gov.uk/pension-credit. If you live in Northern Ireland, call the Northern Ireland Pension Centre on 0808 100 6165 or visit nidirect.gov.uk/pension-credit.
TV Licensing adds: 'You may be eligible to receive a refund for any remaining months on your current licence. We will process this as part of your application. Please contact us on 0300 790 6117 to let us know who we should transfer the licence to. If you live at the same address, you'll be covered until the current licence expires. If you're eligible, you can then apply for a new free TV licence. If not, you'll need to buy a new licence when the current one expires. You can move your licence to your new address by updating your details online.'
