The TV Licence now costs £174.50, but over-75s with Pension Credit can get it free, while blind people and care home residents qualify for discounts
Certain people do not have to pay for a TV Licence(Image: SimpleImages via Getty Images)
Last year, the standard TV Licence fee saw an increase for many, with the Government hiking the price to £174.50 in April 2025. This annual levy is typically required for households or businesses that watch live television or utilise the BBC iPlayer.
However, it might be news to some that certain individuals could be eligible for a free or discounted licence under specific conditions. These reductions could also apply to those with black-and-white TV sets, which usually attract an annual cost of £58.50 under the licence scheme.
Government guidelines indicate that people over 75 years old who receive Pension Credit are primarily entitled to a free TV Licence. The same holds true if you cohabit with a partner who receives Pension Credit, as the licence covers everyone at a particular address.
It’s crucial to note that Pension Credit is not the same as the State Pension. It’s a means-tested benefit for people over State Pension age on a low income, boosting 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 pay until the end of the month before their 75th birthday. After this point, they will be covered by the free licence, according the Mirror.
The Government has confirmed that individuals who are blind or living in residential care are eligible to apply for a reduced-cost TV Licence. To be eligible for the residential care home discount, applicants must be either retired and over 60, or disabled.
Those who meet these criteria can enjoy a significant reduction in their TV Licence fee, bringing it down to just £7.50.
Housing managers at residential care homes are also permitted to submit applications on behalf of their residents. Additionally, anyone registered as blind, or residing with someone who is, can get a 50 percent discount on their TV Licence, reducing the cost of a colour licence to £87.25.
Government guidelines clarify: “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.”
Individuals aged 75 and over who receive Pension Credit can apply for a free licence online or by phone. The official Government contact numbers for this are 0300 790 6071 (telephone) and 0300 709 6050 (minicom).
Others who are registered blind can apply for a licence on the TV Licensing website.
For further information, visit GOV.UK or the official TV Licensing website.
Why did the licence fee change?
In 2024, the Secretary of State unveiled a 2.9 percent price increase, set to take effect from 1 April 2025, in line with annual CPI inflation. The official TV Licensing site verifies that this equates to a daily rise of just over 1p and marks only the second licence fee surge since 1 April 2021.
As a result of this change, the yearly colour licence fee has climbed to £174.50, while the black-and-white licence fee now sits at £58.50 per annum.
For the next four years, up until 2027, any future hikes in the licence fee will be tied to CPI inflation.
