State pensioners aged 75 and over who receive Pension Credit can claim a free TV licence worth £180, with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) saying an application for the benefit takes just 16 minutes on average.
The benefit allows eligible pensioners on lower incomes to avoid paying the annual TV licence fee while also unlocking thousands of pounds in additional financial support.
Under current rules, anyone aged 75 or over who successfully claims Pension Credit automatically qualifies for a free BBC TV licence.
According to the DWP, Pension Credit is worth an average of £4,300 a year, making it one of the most valuable forms of financial support available to eligible older people.
Pension Credit also acts as a gateway to a wide range of additional support, including help with housing costs, council tax and the free TV licence.
Following a 4.8 per cent increase to Pension Credit rates this spring, the DWP highlighted the value of the benefit for eligible pensioners, saying it is “worth an average of £4,300 a year, unlocking further support including help with housing costs, council tax and free television licences”.
The extra assistance available through Pension Credit can significantly reduce household bills for those who qualify.
Labour has also committed to increasing spending on the state pension and pensioner benefits by six billion pounds between 2026 and 2027.
State pensioners can get free TV licence worth £180 through Pension Credit
|
GETTYIt comes as households continue to face higher TV licence costs after an increase introduced three months ago.
The annual fee rose by five pounds fifty earlier this year, with another rise expected from next April.
Under current policy, the licence fee will continue to increase in line with inflation from April 2024 until the end of the BBC Charter period in 2027, meaning households that do not qualify for a concession are likely to face a further rise in 2027.
A TV licence is required to watch or record live television programmes on any device, and to watch BBC programmes on demand through BBC iPlayer.
Licence fee on the rise – Cost of a colour TV Licence, 2000-2026 | GB NEWS
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport said legislation provides several concessions, including free licences for people aged seventy five and over who receive Pension Credit, discounts for people who are registered blind or severely sight impaired, and concessions for eligible residents in qualifying residential care who are disabled or aged sixty and over.
The department confirmed there is no BBC concession providing free TV licences to all state pensioners.
It said the Government remains committed to maintaining the existing licence fee framework and current concessions until the BBC Charter expires at the end of 2027.
Beyond that point, DCMS said it is open to considering new concession arrangements as part of its wider review of the licence fee system, and that existing concessions will not be removed under proposals outlined in the Charter Review Green Paper.