Pensioners could get it for free – saving themselves an annual fee of £180
Not everyone can get it for free – but it’s worth checking(Image: Getty)
Pensioners could be missing out on a free TV Licence – saving them £180 per year.
The standard annual TV Licence costs £180 for a colour licence. Meanwhile, a black-and-white licence costs £60.50, following an increase on April 1, 2026.
There are around 23.3 million TV licences in force – a fall of 539,000 year on year, according to a BBC report on July 14, 2026. This generated income of £3.9 billion, up £36 million year on year, “largely driven by the licence fee uplift.”
Pensioners could get a free TV Licence
You need a TV Licence to watch or record live programmes on any channel, including the BBC. A licence is also required to watch BBC programmes on BBC iPlayer, whether you’re streaming live or watching a downloaded programme on a TV, computer, tablet or smartphone.
If you need one, you could get a free licence if you’re 75 or over and you get Pension Credit. You can also get a discounted TV Licence if you’re blind or live in residential care.
If you’re 75 or over, you could get a free TV Licence
You can get a free TV licence if you’re 75 or older and you either:
- get Pension Credit
- live with your partner who gets Pension Credit
The licence covers everyone who lives at your address. If you already receive Pension Credit, you can apply from age 74. You’ll still need to pay for your licence until the end of the month before you turn 75, after which your free licence will take effect.
TV Licensing notes that there are separate arrangements in place for over-75s on the Isle of Man, the Bailiwick of Jersey, and the Bailiwick of Guernsey.
If you don’t have Pension Credit but think you may be eligible for it, it’s worth checking, TV Licensing suggests.
You can apply online here. If you would prefer to apply for a free TV Licence by phone, call 0300 790 6117* to speak to an advisor. Lines are open between 8.30am and 6.30pm, from Monday to Friday.
*Calls to their 0300 numbers cost no more than a national rate call to an 01 or 02 number, whether from a mobile or landline. If you get inclusive minutes, calls to an 0300 number will be included free of charge.
If you’re in residential care or sheltered accommodation
You can get a heavily discounted TV Licence if you live in an eligible residential care home, supported housing or sheltered accommodation. TV Licensing says that this is known as an Accommodation for Residential Care (ARC) licence and costs £7.50 per room, flat or bungalow.
You must be either:
- retired and over 60
- disabled
You should speak to your care home managers to find out if your accommodation qualifies. They are responsible for arranging this type of licence, gov.uk advises.
If you’re registered blind
If you’re blind (severely sight-impaired) and can provide the required evidence, you can apply for a 50% concession. Your licence will also cover anyone who lives with you.
A blind concession TV Licence costs £90 for colour and £30.25 for black-and-white annually. If you’re partially sighted (sight impaired), you’re not eligible.
If someone you live with is blind (severely sight impaired), you can apply for a blind concession, whatever their age. If you already have a TV Licence but it isn’t in the blind person’s name, you’ll need to transfer it into their name. You can do this by submitting a first-time blind application and entering the existing TV Licence number for your address when you apply.