The cost of a standard TV Licence rose this year, with the Government increasing the price to £174.50 in April
Certain people do not have to pay for a TV Licence(Image: Dennis Fischer Photography via Getty Images)
The cost of the standard TV Licence has seen a hike for many this year, with the Government jacking up the price to £174.50 in April. This annual fee is typically mandatory for households or businesses that watch live TV or use BBCiPlayer.
However, it might come as a surprise that certain people could be eligible for a free or discounted licence under specific conditions. These reductions could also apply to those with black-and-white TVs, which usually incur a yearly cost of £58.50 under the licence scheme.
Government guidance suggests that it’s primarily people over 75 years old who receive Pension Credit who can bag a free TV Licence. The same applies if you live with a partner who receives Pension Credit, as the licence covers everyone at a particular address.
It’s crucial to make clear that Pension Credit is different from the State Pension. It refers to a means-tested benefit for people over State Pension age on a low income, topping up weekly income to £227.10 if you’re single or £346.60 with a partner.
Those claiming Pension Credit can apply for a free TV Licence when they turn 74, but will still need to cough up until the end of the month before their 75th birthday. After this point, they will be covered by the free licence, according to the Express.
Additionally, the Government states that anyone who is blind or in residential care can apply for a discounted TV Licence. To be eligible for the residential care home discount, a person must be either retired and over 60 or disabled.
For those who are eligible, the TV Licence cost plummets to just £7.50. Housing managers at residential care homes can also make applications on behalf of residents.
Furthermore, anyone who is registered blind or lives with someone who is can get a 50% reduction on their TV Licence. This slashes the price of a colour licence to £87.25.
Government guidance explains: “The licence must be in the blind person’s name – if it’s not, you can make a new application to transfer it into their name. You’ll need to provide your existing TV Licence number when you apply.”
People over 75 who receive Pension Credit can apply for a free licence online or by telephone. The Government’s official numbers for this are 0300 790 6071 (telephone) and 0300 709 6050 (minicom).
Last year, the Secretary of State announced a 2.9% price rise, coming into force from April 1 2025, in line with annual CPI inflation.
The official TV Licensing site confirms this represented an increase of slightly more than 1p daily and marks only the second licence fee rise since April 1 2021.
The change has seen the annual colour licence fee rise to £174.50, while the black and white licence fee now stands at £58.50 per annum. Future increases in the licence fee will be tied to CPI inflation for the next four years, ending in 2027.
Now, according to a fresh Mirror report, several newspapers have speculated that the annual cost could reach £182 next year. However, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport reportedly told Sky Money: “No final decision has yet been made on the exact level of next year’s licence fee. We will set this out in due course.”
The annual TV licence fee is set to rise in April 2026
A new petition is calling for major changes to how the TV Licence system works(Image: Getty)
Calls have been made to scrap the BBC TV licence fee and introduce either advertising or a paywall system before the annual price increase in April. A new online petition has urged the Government to make changes to the TV licence system.
The current fee stands at £174.50 and households must pay this if they watch or record live television, or face potential fines. This charge usually increases alongside September’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation rate, which reached 3.8 per cent.
From April 1, 2024, the UK Government determined the licence fee would increase annually with CPI inflation for the Charter period’s remaining four years. The BBC’s current Charter continues until the end of 2027.
Campaigner David Gilmore contends that “even if you don’t watch the BBC you still have to pay for it”. He continued: “You don’t have to pay for content put on by theatres or cinemas if you don’t watch it so why should you be required to pay the BBC if you don’t watch their content?”
The petition titled “Scrap the BBC TV licence and replace funding with adverts or paywall” appears on the UK Government’s petitions-parliament website. At the time of reporting, it had over 1,300 signatures.
The petition needs 10,000 signatures to receive a written response and at 100,000 signatures, it would be considered for debate in Parliament. The petition can be viewed online here.
Other calls to change the TV licence
Over 15,200 people have signed a similar petition, urging the UK Government to cover the TV licence fee for all State Pensioners and those who reach the current official retirement age of 66. As per the current rules, only those over the age of 75 who are receiving Pension Credit are entitled to a free TV licence, saving them £174.50 on the annual fee.
Michael Thompson, the creator of the petition, argues that “many pensioners live on the breadline with only the TV for company”.
He further stated: “With the cost of food soaring and utility bills ever higher, we feel there is a desperate need to provide all pensioners with at least this concession.”
Mr Thompson added: “We feel it is a double outrage that those who have given their all to this country in taxes and raising children have to pay a TV licence fee and are only exempt if they receive means-tested Pension Credit. Meanwhile, some media figures draw huge salaries.”
The “Fund free TV licences for all pensioners” petition can also be seen on the UK Government’s petitions-parliament website.
The BBC TV licence is an annual fee – but not everyone needs to pay for it
06:02, 26 Oct 2025Updated 07:16, 26 Oct 2025
If you only use your TV for watching four types of films or shows you could get a refund on your licence(Image: Getty)
Brits who only use their TV to watch four types of entertainment could be eligible for a refund worth £174.50. If you no longer require a TV Licence from the BBC, you can ask your money back – providing there is at least one full month left on it.
The TV Licence fee has been a standard expense for many people in the UK since its inception in 1946. Back then, the BBC was the sole broadcaster in the country, and the licence cost £2 – equivalent to approximately £105 today.
Despite significant changes in how we consume television, including the advent of numerous channels, streaming and on-demand platforms, this annual bill remains. Following a price increase last year, it now costs £174.50.
Even if you don’t tune into any BBC channels, many households still require a licence. For example, it’s necessary to:
Watch or record programmes as they’re being broadcast live on any TV channel
Watch live programmes on any online TV service – such as Channel 4, YouTube, or Amazon Prime Video
It’s also required to download or watch any BBC programmes on BBC iPlayer. However, there are four lesser-known circumstances where you can use your TV without needing to pay for a licence.
According to the Government website, you do not need a TV Licence if you only watch:
Streaming services like Netflix and Disney Plus
On-demand TV via services like All 4 and Amazon Prime Video
Videos on websites like YouTube
Videos or DVDs
If these are the only things you use your television for, you do not need to pay for a licence. However, if this applies to you and you’ve already paid you could be able to get some money back.
The TV licensing website explains: “You can apply for a refund if you won’t need your licence again before it expires, and you have at least one complete month left on it.” You can apply for a TV Licence refund up to 14 days before the date you no longer need it.
Certain people are also exempt from paying for a TV licence or qualify for a discounted rate and can therefore apply for a refund.
“If you’re eligible for an over 75 or blind concession, you can apply for a refund at any time and for any length of time left on your licence,” the TV licensing website adds.
If you’re aged 75 or over
The Government website states that you can obtain a free TV Licence if you’re 75 or older and you either:
Receive Pension Credit
Live with a partner who receives Pension Credit
If you’re currently receiving Pension Credit, you can apply for a free TV licence when you reach the age of 74. However, you’ll need to continue paying for your licence until the end of the month before your 75th birthday.
From then on, your free licence will cover you. You can submit an application for a free licence online here.
Residential care or sheltered accommodation
If you live in residential care or sheltered accommodation t his entitles you to apply for a discount. If you live in a qualifying residential care home, supported housing or sheltered accommodation, you can obtain a TV Licence for £7.50.
To be eligible, you must also be either:
Retired and over 60
Or disabled
Your housing manager can verify your eligibility and apply on your behalf.
Registered as blind
If you’re registered as blind, or severely sight impaired, or live with someone who is, you can receive a 50 percent discount. The licence must be registered in the name of the blind person – if it’s not, a new application can be made to transfer it into their name.
When applying, you’ll need to provide your existing TV Licence number. You can apply online here
THOUSANDS of pensioners will be able to apply for a winter cash boost worth up to £300 in just days.
More than nine million people are set to get the Winter Fuel Payment to help with their energy bills over the colder months.
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Certain pensioners will need to apply to get the Winter Fuel PaymentCredit: Getty
Most people who are eligible will get the payment automatically, and will receive letters in the post from the DWP in October and November telling them how much cash they will receive.
However, certain pensioners will need to apply to get the benefit.
You can apply either by post or over the phone, and the DWP phone lines to make a claim open on October 13.
Postal applications opened earlier on September 15.
Pensioners have until March 31 2026 to make a claim.
income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
awards from the War Pensions Scheme
Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit
Incapacity Benefit
Industrial Death Benefit
If you don’t receive any of these benefits, you’ll need to claim manually if you’ve not got the Winter Fuel Payment before, or if you’ve deferred your State Pension since your last Winter Fuel Payment.
While the highest amount of free support is £300, the total will depend on when you were born and your circumstances on the qualifying week, which is between September 15 and 21 of this year.
Pensioners born before September 22, 1959, with an income of £35,000 or below will be eligible for between £100 and £300 to help towards heating bills.
Those hoping to receive the cash must be 66 by the end of the qualifying week.
You won’t be eligible for the payment if you earn more than £35,000 a year, and HMRC will claw back the automatic payment made to you through your tax code or tax return.
Your income can come from a range of factors including, your private pension and state benefits.
Other people who won’t be eligible include those who:
live outside England and Wales
were in hospital getting free treatment for the whole of the week of 15 to 21 September 2025 and the year before that
need permission to enter the UK and your granted leave says that you cannot claim public funds
were in prison for the whole of the week of 15 to 21 September 2025
The Winter Fuel Payment was axed for 10million pensioners last year, with only those on certain benefits qualifying.
But the government was forced to perform a U-turn after a huge public outcry, with the funding now being reinstated for millions.
The gov.uk website provides further guidance on the scheme and how to make a claim.
Pensioners are also being warned to be wary of text messages from scammers posing as the DWP, who try to get you to click on a fake link to make a claim.
These are not official DWP messages and should be deleted, the government has said.
The Winter Fuel Payment is separate from the Warm Home Discount, which offers struggling households £150 off their electricity bill.
The money is not paid to you, and households that are eligible will have the discount applied to their bill by their energy provider.
What energy bill help is available?
There’s a number of different ways to get help paying your energy bills if you’re struggling to get by.
If you fall into debt, you can always approach your supplier to see if they can put you on a repayment plan before putting you on a prepayment meter.
This involves paying off what you owe in instalments over a set period.
If your supplier offers you a repayment plan you don’t think you can afford, speak to them again to see if you can negotiate a better deal.
FORMER One Direction star Louis Tomlinson was duped by fraudsters in a £4million footie plot.
The Bigger Than Me singer became the face of Doncaster Rovers in the hope he could boost the profile of his childhood team and take them to the Premier League.
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The singer with former Doncaster chairman John RyanCredit: Rex
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Louis Tomlinson was duped by fraudsters in a £4million footie plot
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The pop star making his Doncaster Rovers football debut in 2014Credit: Alamy
But the 33-year-old had the wool pulled over his eyes by a gang who stole millions from people’s retirement nest eggs.
Over two years £3.7million had been funnelled from hard-earned pension pots belonging more than 200 victims.
Prosecutors said the proposed Doncaster deal was used by the thugs to cover upthe missing cash to cops.
As reported by the Mirror, criminal gang Kevin Phelan, Daniel Giles and Adrian Bashforth were all convicted last month and face jail time.
The trial at Leeds Crown Court heard Louis unwittingly became involved with the scammers in 2014.
At the gang’s trial, prosecutor Timothy Hannam KC said: “These defendants nicked money from people’s life savings.”
Former club chairman John Ryan enlisted Louis’ help to bolster support for Doncaster at the time.
The club was insolvent and staying afloat by Ryan’s loans and other investors.
Seqentia Captial SA tried to buy it twice, but deals fell through on both occasions.
Ryan also asked crook Phelan, 62, if he wanted to buy the club in 2013.
Louis Tomlinson admits feeling nervous ahead of Soccer Aid as Zara’s ex Sam Thompson awkwardly hovers behind him
Louis later met with the gang at his Cheshire pad at the height of 1D’s fame in 2014.
Ryan transferred his 30 per cent shareholding to Sequentia and resigned as Doncaster chairman.
The proposed deal stated 70 per cent of Doncaster would be given to Belize-based Sequentia Capital SA if the takeover was successful.
Louis and Ryan would become the club’s public face while Sequentia would be a “silent participant”.
The One Direction singer started a fundraiser and aimed to rake in an eyewatering £6million from his fans and followers.
But the crowdfunder only raised £600,000 in the end, and £500,000 of that was from one of the fraudulent gang members.
The source of the offshore firm’s funds was “stolen pension money”, the court heard.
Phelan met Louis at his home in January 2014 and Daniel Giles texted the same day: “I’ve been interrogated for the last few hours over 1D boy. Kids want to come to the next meeting mate.
“I’m thinking 16 million brainwashed followers. Very very interesting.
“Let’s crack on now together and build a nice fighting fund.”
The deal would also see Louis take a 10 per cent stake in the club with the hopes they would reach the Premier League.
The singer would show his support at games and behind the scenes.
He met with Phelan and Giles, 51, at a One Direction concert in Dublin’ to sign the deal, however it didn’t go through due to the lack of funds raised.
Louis said at the time: “I’m gutted the Doncaster deal is not going ahead. I am desperate for the club to be given the recognition it deserves.
“I was told the deal to buy the club was not dependent on the money raised by Crowdfunding. Unfortunately I was misled.”
There is no suggestion Louis or Ryan knew about the pension fraud.
The defendants will be sentenced in January.
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Louis supported at matches and behind the scenesCredit: PA
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The former 1D star became the face of the clubCredit: PA:Press Association
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Neither Louis nor John Ryan knew about the dodgy dealingsCredit: Nigel Bennett
MILLIONS of Brits who rely solely on the state pension face having to pay income tax within the next two years.
Rises guaranteed under the triple-lock will push many dangerously close to the £12,570 tax threshold.
State pensions rise each year by the rate of either inflation, earnings growth, or 2.5 per cent — whichever is highest.
With wage growth at 4.7 per cent, the full new state pension will rise to £12,535 a year next April.
That is £35 short of the frozen income tax threshold, meaning OAPs in question are certain to be paying up by 2027.
Despite warnings, the Government has made no commitment to raising tax thresholds or making an exemption for Brits who have only the state pension.
A spokesman said: “We are committed to helping pensioners live their lives with dignity and respect, which is why millions will see their pension rise by up to £1,900 this Parliament.”
They also stated that people completely reliant on the state pension would not have to pay any income tax “this year”.
HMRC is expected to deduct tax directly through pension providers — or send pensioners a Simple Assessment tax bill that they have to work out.
Campaigners last night blasted the news, with ex-Pensions Minister Sir Steve Webb calling it a “creeping injustice” due to “drag millions more into the tax net”.
Rachel Vahey, of pensions firm AJ Bell, said it would force many older Brits to fill out their first self-assessment, and warned that present financial woes made reforms on taxes and pensions unlikely.
State Pension Set to Rise by £562, Sainsbury’s Hikes Meal Deal Price, & Pret to Open First Drive-Thrus – Money News Today
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Millions of Brits who rely solely on the state pension face having to pay income tax within the next two yearsCredit: Getty
LYING in bed at night 68-year-old Melanie O’Reilly lay awake worrying about how she couldn’t afford to quit her £23,500 a year, 37.5-hour a week job working in a call centre.
She was £13,000 in debt and knew she couldn’t afford to pay the £500 a month repayments to the bank – but she was desperately unhappy in her job.
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Melanie O’Reilly, 68, thought she’d never retire due to debt
Her days were spent fielding angry calls from Hounslow residents complaining about council tax and housing benefit.
She had moved from South Africa to England in September 2019 with no savings but found a job quickly due to her past career in office furniture sales.
However, the pandemic hit and in October 2020 she was made redundant before struggling to find a job at a call centre in the local council in Hounslow, West London in February 2022.
“I couldn’t stand it anymore. I was sitting there most days in full-blown migraine feeling like I had sandpaper in my eyes, until I couldn’t see the screen anymore,” Melanie, now 69, said.
“I had been very good at my job in South Africa, and I was excellent at sales.”
“Suddenly I was being micromanaged by a 26-year-old, who would count how many times I went to the toilet in a day, and tell me off if I took 31 seconds on a call instead of 30 seconds.
“The staff turnover was ridiculously high and it started to affect my physical and mental health.”
Melanie, who had previously worked as an insurance PA in London before the move to South Africa, was utterly fed up, and knew she had to retire – but had no idea how she could do so with her mounting debt.
She had lent her son and daughter-in-law, who had also moved to the UK, money for a deposit on a home in Colne, Lancashire – but then disaster struck.
Suddenly her daughter-in-law was made redundant shortly after they had their first child, meaning they couldn’t pay Melanie back as quickly as they’d planned.
Melanie was also dealing with the financial fall out of splitting from her partner and she took out a £15,000 personal loan and she had mounting credit card debt of £3,000.
Worryingly one in three people approaching retirement now have debt, with the average over-65 borrower owing £17,000, according to Money Wellness.
Financial anxiety among the 65 to 74 age group has more than doubled since 2021.
“I had the personal loan, but I was not behind in my payments and I just knew, ‘I’ve got to leave. I have to retire.
“If I don’t, I am going to have a breakdown’,” Melanie said.
“I decided to retire and I did, in April 2024. I called up Lloyds Bank and I said, ‘I’ve got this personal loan with you and I know that a few months from now I’m going to end up not being able to pay you.’
“I knew I had to take preventative measures before I got behind in any of my payments.
“I was hugely concerned about how to get Lloyds Bank to agree to a reduced monthly payment.
“I knew I couldn’t pay them back £500 a month, and I knew they wouldn’t negotiate a new loan with me because I was unemployed, as I was now retired with no real income.”
Lloyds put Melanie in touch with Money Wellness, one of the largest providers of debt advice and debt solutions in the UK.
Money Wellness provides free, confidential support to anyone struggling with money or debt, with support available online 24/7 or over the phone, so people can get help in the way that suits them best.
Melanie still owed £13,000 of the £15,000 personal loan. She called Money Wellness, and they asked her to draw up an income and expense statement.
Advisors went through her statement in detail, making allowances for everything from clothing to haircuts, and calculating how much she could afford to pay back each month to help Melanie put a debt management plan in place.
“They were so empathetic and professional,” Melanie explains.
“We revised the budget down to a manageable figure that I could pay Lloyds Bank back and by the end of it, it felt like this was too good to be true.
“They took the burden of negotiations off my shoulders and it was all done seamlessly for me without me having to worry about anything.”
The adviser told Melanie that they would negotiate the figure she had to pay back directly with Lloyds Bank, to the extent of setting up a debit order.
“After the call, I sat back and wept,” Melanie remembers.
“I was hugely concerned because when I was working at the council, I had people calling me up saying, ‘I’ve got the bailiffs at my door. They’re bashing my door down. What do I do?’
“I did not want to be in that position, and I knew that that is a reality that can and does happen.
“I did not want to go anywhere near being that person who’s got the bailiff bashing at your door. That is why I nipped it in the bud before it became a problem.”
From paying £500 a month back, Melanie now pays back £134 a month, with no added interest.
She lives in a HMO in Burnley so she doesn’t pay utility bills or council tax and receives housing benefits and pension credit.
Her repayments come from a small state pension, pension credit and housing benefits.
She receives £456.64 state pension, £451.56 pension credit and £368.20 housing benefit every four weeks.
She’d had to spend her small private pension on replacing her car after a car accident, and buying essentials like furniture.
Money Wellness reviews her plan annually, adjusting the amount if her income changes.
Melanie feels positive about the future and says the debt advice she received from Money Wellness is “the best decision I ever took”.
“For so long, I’d sat with this worrisome burden, thinking ‘I need to retire but I’ve got this debt. What do I do?’ Then these angels from heaven stepped up and helped me,” she adds.
“I feel as though a mountain had been lifted off my shoulders.”
How to cut the cost of your debt
IF you’re in large amounts of debt it can be really worrying. Here are some tips from Citizens Advice on how you can take action.
Check your bank balance on a regular basis – knowing your spending patterns is the first step to managing your money
Work out your budget – by writing down your income and taking away your essential bills such as food and transport If you have money left over, plan in advance what else you’ll spend or save. If you don’t, look at ways to cut your costs
Pay off more than the minimum – If you’ve got credit card debts aim to pay off more than the minimum amount on your credit card each month to bring down your bill quicker
Pay your most expensive credit card sooner – If you have more than one credit card and can’t pay them off in full each month, prioritise the most expensive card (the one with the highest interest rate)
Prioritise your debts – If you’ve got several debts and you can’t afford to pay them all it’s important to prioritise them
Your rent, mortgage, council tax and energy bills should be paid first because the consequences can be more serious if you don’t pay
Get advice – If you’re struggling to pay your debts month after month it’s important you get advice as soon as possible, before they build up even further
Groups like Citizens Advice and National Debtline can help you prioritise and negotiate with your creditors to offer you more affordable repayment plans.
Dreaming of retiring already? A stunning country just a couple of hours from the UK has one of the highest paying pensions in Europe – but there are several big catches
The UK’s State Pension is currently below £12,000 per year(Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
Million of Brits could see a huge boost to their retirement, after HM Treasury unveiled plans to double the number of UK pension megafunds by 2030.
As previously explained, this is where smaller local authorities and private workplaces come together, with the aim that bundling larger funds will result in a much greater return. The government states these changes will ‘drive more investment directly into the UK economy for new homes and promising scale-up businesses’.
“With over £50 billion secured through the recent voluntary commitment from pension funds to invest five percent of assets in the UK and new local investment targets for Local Government Pension Scheme authorities,” HM Treasury added. “This tackles the gradual decline in domestic investment from UK pension funds, where around 20 per cent of Defined Contribution assets are currently invested compared to over 50 per cent in 2012.”
Iceland has one of the highest pensions in Europe(Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
For now, Brits on the State Pension will receive just £230.25 a week (£11,973 per year) as long as they have enough qualifying years of National Insurance (NI). If your NI record started after April 2016, you will need 35 qualifying years to get the full rate of the New State Pension.
But in comparison to nearby countries, the UK’s state pension seems mediocre at best. According to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) – as of 2022 – the full basic pension in Iceland is valued at ISK 3,439,428, equivalent to 31 per cent of average worker earnings. This roughly converts to £20,063.08 per year – more than £8,000 compared to the UK state pension.
“There is an annual allowance of ISK 300,000 (£1,751.11) for exempt income, equivalent to three per cent of average earnings,” OECD added. “Above this allowance, the basic pension is withdrawn at a rate of 45 per cent against income from pension funds. It is also withdrawn at 45 per cent against employment income but only after employment income is above ISK 2,400, 000 (£14,011) in addition to the allowance. There is also an annual holiday payment of ISK 106,765 (£623) which is withdrawn at two per cent above the income limits.”
However, the State Pension age is currently 66-year-old for men and women in the UK – although it is slated to increase to 67 by 2028 – whereas the normal pension age in Iceland is already 67 (except for seamen who have been working for more than 25 years in the occupation, who can retire at 60). If you claim your basic pension in Iceland before you reach 67, your funds will be reduced by 6.6 per cent for each year that the pension is claimed early.
Iceland also has a pension supplement which is applicable for single pensioners. The maximum value of this benefit is ISK 869,124 (£5,0712) per year, some eight per cent of average earnings. This benefit is withdrawn at 11.9 per cent, subject to the same thresholds as the basic pension.
If you’re tempted to ditch Britain for Iceland, you may want to think twice, as you can only receive the full basic pension if you have 40 years of residency. While Iceland’s pension may seem extremely generous, it is worth considering that the cost of living here is around 40-50 per cent higher than in the UK. This means you’d be spending almost double on your weekly food shop, property, and basic goods.
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