Those with a state pension who are aged 75 can knock their bills to £0 from £174 as the new rate comes into force on April 1.
State pensioners born before 1951 have been urged to act within 18 days to escape a £174 BBC TV Licence bill. Those with a state pension who are aged 75 can knock their bills to £0 from £174 as the new rate comes into force on April 1.
You can apply for a free TV Licence if you, as the licence holder, are 75 years or older AND you, or your partner living at the same address, receive Pension Credit. There are separate arrangements in place for over 75s on the Isle of Man, the Bailiwick of Jersey and the Bailiwick of Guernsey.
TV Licensing explains: “If you already receive Pension Credit, you can apply for your free licence when you are 74 years old. We’ll update your payments to cover you until your 75th birthday, and then you’ll be covered by your free licence. We’ll confirm this in writing.
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“If you’re blind (severely sight impaired) and can provide the appropriate evidence, you’re eligible to apply for a 50% concession. Once your blind application has been accepted you can then apply for a free TV Licence.”
If you don’t have Pension Credit but think you may be eligible for it, it’s worth checking. Pension Credit tops up your retirement income and the average Pension Credit payment is over £67 per week. You might be eligible even if you have a pension, savings or own your home.
It not only allows you to claim a free TV Licence, but it can also help with housing costs, heating bills, Council tax, NHS dental care, and more. TV Licensing says it’s easy to check if you can get Pension Credit. You must call the Department for Work and Pensions on 0800 99 1234 (opening hours 8.00am – 6.00pm) or go to gov.uk/pension-credit.
If you live in Northern Ireland, call the Northern Ireland Pension Centre on 0808 100 6165. Or go to nidirect.gov.uk/pension-credit. If you’ve been paying for a TV Licence when you were eligible for a free one, you may be due a refund.
TV Licensing says: “We will process this as part of your application.”