Eligible state pensioners can unlock entry to a £180 saving.
Claiming Pension Credit score can unlock entry to a free TV Licence (Picture: Getty)
The Division for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed state pensioners aged 75 and over and on a low revenue can reduce their BBC TV Licence invoice right down to £0 with a single declare. Following a £5.50 worth improve on April 1, a TV Licence now prices £180 per yr, or 60.50 yearly in case you have a black and white TV set. Households face one other worth hike in April 2027 because the UK authorities determined the TV Licence payment would improve with inflation for the remaining years of the Constitution interval, which runs till the top of 2027.
This yr, the licence payment has gone up according to inflation as required by the 2022 Licence Price Settlement. And it’ll rise once more according to CPI inflation in April subsequent yr. Households want a TV Licence to look at or file programmes on a TV, laptop, or different gadget on any channel or service as they’re broadcast – together with on-demand BBC programmes on BBC iPlayer. But it surely’s doable for some pensioners to keep away from the licence payment altogether, successfully chopping payments right down to £0 by claiming one DWP profit: Pension Credit score.
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Pension Credit score offers more money to state pensioners on a low revenue, and following a 4.8% improve on April 6, the DWP has confirmed the profit is now price £4,300 on common per yr.
Below the brand new April 2026/27 charges, single claimants can high up their revenue to £238 per week, or their joint weekly revenue to £363.25 per week in case you have a accomplice.
However the profit additionally unlocks entry to an array of further monetary help, together with a free TV Licence if you happen to’re aged 75 or over, which means eligible older pensioners can reduce their TV Licence invoice from £180 per yr right down to £0 with a single declare.
Confirming the Pension Credit score uplift in April, and the perks it unlocks, the DWP stated: “Pension Credit score may also rise by 4.8% and be price a mean of £4,300 a yr, unlocking additional help together with assist with housing prices, council tax and free tv licenses. Between 2026 and 2027, the federal government will present a £6 billion increase to spending on State Pensions and pensioner advantages.”
In keeping with the DWP, it takes simply 16 minutes on common to use for Pension Credit score and if you happen to’re eligible, the profit can provide you entry to hundreds of kilos price of additional help.
For those who already get Pension Credit score then you’ll be able to apply for a free TV Licence once you’re 74, however you’ll must proceed paying on your licence till the top of the month earlier than your seventy fifth birthday. After this, you may be lined by your free licence.
For individuals who don’t meet the eligibility standards for Pension Credit score, there are different methods to scale back your TV Licence invoice, or keep away from the payment totally.
In keeping with TV Licensing, it’s best to cancel your TV Licence if you happen to now not watch reside on any channel, TV service or streaming service, or use BBC iPlayer. So if you happen to fall into this class, you’ll be able to cancel your licence and could also be eligible for a refund if, earlier than your licence expires, you received’t be doing any of the next:
- watching TV on any channel, like BBC, ITV, Channel 4, U&Dave and worldwide channels
- watching TV on pay TV companies, like Sky, Virgin Media and EE TV
- watching reside TV on streaming companies, like YouTube, Netflix, and Amazon Prime Video.
- utilizing BBC iPlayer
This contains recording and downloading programmes on any gadget. However if you happen to nonetheless want your TV Licence there are different methods to scale back the associated fee.
For those who reside in a residential care residence, supported housing or sheltered lodging, then chances are you’ll be entitled to a diminished payment TV Licence, and if you happen to’re blind (severely sight impaired) and may present the suitable proof, you’ll be able to apply for a 50% low cost in your TV Licence. But when neither of those apply you then’ll must pay for a TV Licence on the full price.
For those who don’t meet the eligibility standards for Pension Credit score or qualify for a diminished payment TV Licence, then there are nonetheless just a few choices to economize.
TV licences are per family, not per individual, so if you happen to reside in a home with a number of individuals, you don’t all must have one and will all chip in to share the price of one licence. As an alternative, you’ll be able to share a TV Licence among the many complete family if you happen to watch TV in a single shared space, or have a joint tenancy settlement. However in case you have separate tenancy agreements and watch TV in your individual room, then you have to to pay on your personal.
You additionally don’t want a TV Licence to look at streaming companies, comparable to Netflix and Disney Plus, on-demand TV by way of companies like All 4 and Amazon Prime Video, movies on web sites comparable to YouTube, or DVDs and Blu-rays.
So if you happen to’re comfortable to only keep on with watching any of those, and never watch or file any reside TV or BBC iPlayer, it can save you your self £180 per yr. However if you happen to do watch or file reside TV and not using a TV Licence, you then could be issued a positive of as much as £1,000.
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