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.”
MILLIONS of pensioners will be hit with £300 tax bills from HMRC this winter.
From November, around nine million pensioners will begin to see up to £300 land in their bank accounts.
1
The benefit is issued by the DWP to help cover fuel costs over winterCredit: Getty
The cash boost comes as part of the Winter Fuel Payment, which is a benefit issued by the DWP to help elderly people with fuel costs over the colder months.
Families can get FREE washing machines, fridges and kids’ beds or £200 payments this summer – and you can apply now
What happens now?
If you did not opt out, HMRC will change your tax code and you will receive a tax code notice letter.
Changing your tax code means that your Winter Fuel Payment will be deducted from your income and paid to HMRC in monthly instalments.
So for example, if you received a £100 Winter Fuel Payment but had an income of £35,000, you will pay back around £9 every month.
You will be charged from April 2026, which is the start of the new tax year.
Households can check if they are over the income thresholds by visiting www.tax.service.gov.uk/guidance/check-if-hmrc-will-take-back-your-winter-payment/start/country.
How to opt out of future charges
The deadline for opting out of the Winter Fuel Payment for 2025 to 2026 has passed.
But you can opt out of getting the benefit for 2026 to 2027 from April 2026.
When it reopens, you will need to complete either an online form or phone the helpline on 0800 731 0160.
If you opt to complete the form online, you will need details such as your National Insurance number.
Who is not eligible for the payment?
You can get a Winter Fuel Payment if you were born before September 22 1959 and live in England or Wales.
But a small group of individuals will not be eligible, including:
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
Most people are paid the benefit automatically but if you think you are risk of missing out you can apply.
Are you missing out on benefits?
YOU can use a benefits calculator to help check that you are not missing out on money you are entitled to
Entitledto’s free calculator determines whether you qualify for various benefits, tax credit and Universal Credit.
MoneySavingExpert.com and charity StepChange both have benefits tools powered by Entitledto’s data.
You can use Policy in Practice’s calculator to determine which benefits you could receive and how much cash you’ll have left over each month after paying for housing costs.
Your exact entitlement will only be clear when you make a claim, but calculators can indicate what you might be eligible for.
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.
1
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.
6
The singer with former Doncaster chairman John RyanCredit: Rex
6
Louis Tomlinson was duped by fraudsters in a £4million footie plot
6
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.
6
Louis supported at matches and behind the scenesCredit: PA
6
The former 1D star became the face of the clubCredit: PA:Press Association
6
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
1
Millions of Brits who rely solely on the state pension face having to pay income tax within the next two yearsCredit: Getty
State Pension (including Graduated Retirement Benefit)
Severe Disablement Allowance (transitionally protected)
Unemployability Supplement or Allowance (paid under Industrial Injuries or War Pensions schemes)
War Disablement Pension at State Pension age
War Widow’s Pension
Widowed Mother’s Allowance
Widowed Parent’s Allowance
Widow’s Pension
If you’re part of a married couple, in a civil partnership or live together, you’ll both get the cash bonus – as long as you both are eligible.
If you or your partner do not get one of the above qualifying benefits, then they could still get the bonus if they are over the state pension age by the end of the qualifying week.
Winter Fuel payment
The Winter Fuel Payment is made every year to help cover the cost of energy over the colder months.
It has been changed in recent months so that fewer can claim.
However, the cash boost, worth up to £300, is still valuable for those who quality – particularly those on Pension Credit.
The cash is usually paid in November and December, with some made up until the end of January the following year.
If you haven’t got your payment by then, you need to call the office that pays your benefits.
Households eligible for the payment are usually told via a letter sent in October or November each year.
If you think you meet the criteria, but don’t automatically get the winter fuel payment, you will have to apply on the government’s website.
The Child Winter Heating Assistance
If you’re based in Scotland, you could receive a child winter heating assistance payment of £255.80.
You get child winter heating payment for a child or young person under 19 who lives in Scotland and who is entitled to:
the highest rate of the care component of child disability payment (CDP) or disability living allowance (DLA), or
the enhanced rate of the daily living component of adult disability payment (ADP) or personal independence payment (PIP).
They must be entitled to the relevant disability benefit during the ‘qualifying week’, which is the week beginning on the third Monday in September (w/c Septmber 15 in 2025).
You do not have to make a claim for the payment, but it should be paid by Social Security Scotland, usually in November.
If you think you’re entitled but have not received payment by the end of December, you should contact Social Security Scotland on 0800 182 2222.
Warm Home Discount
The Warm Home Discount is an automatic £150 discount off energy bills.
As the money is a discount, there is no money paid to you, but you’ll get the payment automatically if your electricity supplier is part of the scheme and you qualify.
You’ll have to be in receipt of one of the following benefits to qualify for one of the payments:
If you don’t claim any of the above benefits, you won’t be eligible for the payment.
Cold Weather payment
Cold weather payments are dished out when temperatures are recorded as, or forecast to be, zero degrees or below, on average, for seven consecutive days between November 1 and March 31.
Eligible Brits are then given extra money to help heat their homes.
You get £25 for each seven-day period where the weather is below zero Celsius on average during this time frame.
You can check if your area has had a cold weather payment by popping your postcode into the government’s tool on its website.
You’ll need to be on certain benefits to qualify, which are:
Student maintenance loans are paid to university students to help cover living costs such as rent.
They are usually paid at the start of each new term, so you typically receive three payments a year.
Maintenance Loans are paid straight into your student bank account in three (almost) equal instalments throughout the year.
The amount you will receive depends on where in the UK you’re from, whether you’ll be living at home or not, your household income and how long you’re studying for.
The average Maintenance Loan is approximately £6,116 a year.
Are you missing out on benefits?
YOU can use a benefits calculator to help check that you are not missing out on money you are entitled to
Entitledto’s free calculator determines whether you qualify for various benefits, tax credit and Universal Credit.
MoneySavingExpert.com and charity StepChange both have benefits tools powered by Entitledto’s data.
You can use Policy in Practice’s calculator to determine which benefits you could receive and how much cash you’ll have left over each month after paying for housing costs.
Your exact entitlement will only be clear when you make a claim, but calculators can indicate what you might be eligible for.
