The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed that state pensioners aged 75 and over who are on a low income can cut their TV licence bill down to £0 with a single claim.

Currently, a TV licence costs £180 per year (or £60.50 per year if you have a black and white TV set) following a price rise in April and the fee is due to rise again in April in line with CPI inflation. According to forecasts from the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), the annual fee is set to rise to £202.60 by 2031, up from its current level of £180, if it continues to increase with inflation. It comes as the number of people paying the BBC licence fee is expected to plummet by 2.7 million over the next five years to just 19 million as more households continue to favour other streaming services like Netflix, Disney Plus and Amazon Prime over the BBC.

A White Paper on the BBC’s charter renewal is expected to be published before Christmas, which will set out how the corporation will be governed, regulated and funded from 2028 onwards, but under current rules, anyone who uses a TV to watch content must pay the licence fee, even if they don’t watch the BBC.

You need a TV licence to watch or record programmes on a TV, computer, or other device on any channel or service as they are broadcast – including on-demand BBC programmes on BBC iPlayer, as well as live events on streaming services.

But it’s possible for eligible older pensioners to avoid the fee altogether, effectively cutting bills down to £0 thanks to one DWP benefit: Pension Credit.

Claiming Pension Credit can unlock access to a free TV licence (Image: Getty)

Pension Credit provides extra money to people in England, Scotland and Wales on a low income who have reached State Pension age, and it worth £4,300 on average per year .

In the 2026 to 2027 tax year, single claimants can top up their income to £238 per week, or their joint weekly income to £363.25 per week if you have a partner, but the benefit also unlocks further financial support – including a free TV licence if you’re aged 75 or over. As such, eligible older pensioners can cut their TV Licence bill from £180 per year down to £0 with a single claim.

Confirming the Pension Credit uplift in April, and the perks it unlocks, the DWP said: “Pension Credit will also rise by 4.8% and be worth an average of £4,300 a year, unlocking further support including help with housing costs, council tax and free television licenses. Between 2026 and 2027, the government will provide a £6 billion boost to spending on State Pensions and pensioner benefits.”

According to the DWP, it takes just 16 minutes on average to apply for Pension Credit and if you’re eligible, the benefit can give you access to thousands of pounds worth of extra support.

If you already get Pension Credit then you can apply for a free TV Licence when you’re 74, but you’ll need to continue paying for your licence until the end of the month before your 75th birthday. After this, you’ll be covered by your free licence.

For those who don’t meet the eligibility criteria for Pension Credit, there are other ways to reduce your TV licence bill, or avoid the fee entirely.

According to TV Licensing, it can be worth cancelling your TV Licence if you no longer watch live on any channel, TV service or streaming service, or use BBC iPlayer. So if you fall into this category, you can cancel your licence and may be eligible for a refund if, before your licence expires, you won’t be doing any of the following:

• watching TV on any channel, like BBC, ITV, Channel 4, U&Dave and international channels
• watching TV on pay TV services, like Sky, Virgin Media and EE TV
• watching live TV on streaming services, like YouTube, Netflix, and Amazon Prime Video.
• using BBC iPlayer
  

This includes recording and downloading programmes on any device. But if you still need your TV Licence there are other ways to reduce the cost.

If you live in a residential care home, supported housing or sheltered accommodation, then you may be entitled to a reduced fee TV licence, and if you’re blind (severely sight impaired) and can provide the appropriate evidence, you can apply for a 50% discount on your TV licence. But if neither of these apply then you’ll have to pay for a TV licence at the full rate.

If you don’t meet the eligibility criteria for Pension Credit or qualify for a reduced fee TV licence, then there are still a few options to save money.

TV licences are per household, not per person, so if you live in a house with several people, you don’t all need to have one and could all chip in to share the cost of one licence. Instead, you can share a TV licence among the whole household if you watch TV in a single shared area, or have a joint tenancy agreement. But if you have separate tenancy agreements and watch TV in your own room, then you will need to pay for your own.

You also don’t need a TV licence to watch streaming services (apart from for live events on streaming), such as Netflix and Disney Plus, on-demand TV through services like All 4 and Amazon Prime Video, videos on websites such as YouTube, or DVDs and Blu-rays.

So if you’re happy to just stick to watching any of these, and not watch or record any live TV or BBC iPlayer, you can save yourself £180 per year. But if you do watch or record live TV without a TV licence, then you can be issued a fine of up to £1,000.

DWP Confirms £0 BBC TV Licence Bill for State Pensioners Over 75 – Millions Urged to Check Eligibility

Millions of older people across Britain could save £180 a year on their television licence after confirmation that eligible pensioners aged 75 and over can receive a completely free BBC TV Licence.

The announcement is particularly important for pensioners struggling with rising household bills, food prices, heating costs and other everyday expenses.

However, there is an important condition that older people need to understand: being over 75 and receiving the State Pension does not automatically qualify someone for a free television licence.

The support is available to people aged 75 or over who receive Pension Credit, or whose partner living at the same address receives the benefit.

With the annual television licence fee increasing to £180 from April 2026, checking eligibility could make a meaningful difference to household finances.

Who Qualifies for a Free TV Licence?

Under the current rules, people aged 75 or over can apply for a free television licence if they meet the Pension Credit requirement.

The eligibility conditions are straightforward:

• • You must be aged 75 or older.

• • You must receive Pension Credit.

• • Alternatively, your partner living at the same address must receive Pension Credit.

• • The licence must cover your main residential address.

The free licence covers everyone living at the eligible household, including younger family members.

This means that one qualifying pensioner could help an entire household avoid paying the annual television licence charge.

Importantly, people do not automatically qualify simply because they receive the State Pension or have reached their 75th birthday.

How Much Money Could Pensioners Save?

The annual cost of a standard colour television licence increased to £180 on 1 April 2026.

For eligible pensioners, the free licence reduces this bill to absolutely nothing.

<box border radius=”lg” padding={3} gap={3}> <title size=”lg”>Annual TV licence savings</title> <row align=”center” justify=”between”> <text color=”secondary” size=”sm”>Standard annual licence</text> **£180** </row> <row align=”center” justify=”between”> <text color=”secondary” size=”sm”>Eligible over-75s</text> <title color=”success” size=”2xl” tabularNums>£0</title> </row> <divider color=”subtle”/> <row align=”center” justify=”between”> **Annual saving** <title color=”success” size=”2xl” tabularNums>£180</title> </row> <caption>Based on the 2026/27 annual colour TV licence fee.</caption> </box>

For pensioners living on a limited income, keeping an additional £180 each year could help cover groceries, electricity, heating or other essential expenses.

Pension Credit Is the Key to Unlocking the Support

Pension Credit is a government benefit designed to provide additional financial assistance to people who have reached State Pension age and have a relatively low income.

There are two main elements:

1. Guarantee Credit

This can top up weekly income to a government-set minimum, subject to eligibility and individual circumstances.

2. Savings Credit

This is an additional payment available to certain people who reached State Pension age before 6 April 2016.

Claiming Pension Credit can also unlock access to other forms of financial support.

These may include:

• • Free TV licences for eligible people aged 75 and over.

• • Help with eligible housing costs.

• • Council Tax support.

• • Additional assistance with certain heating costs.

• • Other benefits depending on individual circumstances.

Many pensioners mistakenly assume they cannot qualify because they own their home or have some savings.

However, eligibility depends on several factors, and having savings does not automatically rule someone out.

Can You Apply Before Your 75th Birthday?

Yes.

If you already receive Pension Credit, you can apply for your free TV licence when you are 74.

However, you will still need to pay for your existing licence until the end of the month before your 75th birthday.

After that, your free licence will cover you.

This arrangement helps ensure that eligible pensioners can organise their application in advance rather than waiting until their birthday.

How to Claim Your Free BBC TV Licence

Eligible pensioners can apply directly through TV Licensing.

The application process involves confirming your identity, address and Pension Credit entitlement.

TV Licensing can check your benefit status with the Department for Work and Pensions.

You should ensure that the name on your television licence matches the name held by the DWP to avoid unnecessary delays.

Official application information:

https://www.gov.uk/free-discount-tv-licence

Alternatively, you can contact TV Licensing on 0300 790 6071.

Be careful of unofficial websites or callers asking for bank details to arrange a supposedly guaranteed pensioner bonus.

What If You Are Over 75 but Do Not Receive Pension Credit?

Unfortunately, reaching the age of 75 alone does not currently provide an automatic entitlement to a free television licence.

If you are over 75 but do not receive Pension Credit, you will generally need to pay the standard licence fee if you watch or record live television or use BBC iPlayer.

However, there are other concessions.

• • People who are registered blind or severely sight impaired may qualify for a 50% discount.

• • Eligible residents of certain care homes or sheltered accommodation may qualify for a reduced licence costing £7.50 annually.

• • Households that do not watch or record live television or use BBC iPlayer may not need a television licence.

Pensioners who are close to the Pension Credit eligibility threshold should consider checking their circumstances rather than assuming they are ineligible.

Government Faces Pressure Over Pensioner Living Costs

The free television licence arrangement comes amid wider concerns about the financial circumstances of older people.

Many pensioners depend heavily on their State Pension and struggle to manage increasing household expenses.

Heating, electricity, food and housing costs can consume a substantial proportion of retirement income.

Campaigners have repeatedly argued that older people should receive more assistance, particularly those who have limited savings and no significant private pension.

The government has maintained the existing free TV licence concession for over-75s receiving Pension Credit while considering possible changes to BBC funding arrangements through the next Charter Review.

For now, the existing eligibility rules remain in place.

Important: Do Not Miss Out on Money You Are Entitled To

One of the biggest concerns is that some eligible pensioners are not claiming Pension Credit.

This means they could be missing out on more than just the free television licence.

Even if someone receives a modest private pension or has some savings, it may still be worth checking whether they qualify.

A successful Pension Credit application could unlock several additional forms of financial assistance.

The safest approach is to use the official GOV.UK eligibility checker or contact the Pension Service.

Conclusion

The confirmation of free BBC TV licences for eligible pensioners aged 75 and over provides welcome financial assistance at a time when many older households are struggling with rising costs.

The £180 annual saving may appear relatively modest, but for someone living on a limited retirement income, every pound matters.

However, pensioners must remember that the concession is linked to Pension Credit, not simply reaching the age of 75.

Those who already receive the benefit should check whether they have applied for their free licence, while those who do not should investigate whether they might qualify.

The message to Britain’s pensioners is clear: do not miss out on financial support you are legally entitled to receive. Check your Pension Credit eligibility and make sure you are not paying a television licence bill unnecessarily.