The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has issued a full response to a petition demanding free TV licences for all state pensioners, but supporters have just four weeks to back the plan to force a potential debate.
Petition Deadline
People wanting to pressure the government to provide free TV licences to all state pensioners have until July 21 to sign the campaign. The petition, hosted on the Parliament website, has already gained significant support, rising to 43,900 signatures in the last week. If it reaches 100,000 signatures, it will be considered for a Parliamentary debate, putting the Department for Culture, Media and Sport under pressure to defend its position.
Government Response
The government has issued an important update, confirming it is 'keeping an open mind' about 'new concessions' for households. This formal response was triggered after the petition reached 10,000 signatures. The standard UK TV Licence rose to £180 per year in 2024, with a black-and-white licence costing £60.50. Currently, free TV licences for pensioners are only available to those aged 75 or over and in receipt of Pension Credit.
Background
Universal free TV licences for 3.7 million pensioners aged 75 and above ended on July 31, 2020. The BBC stated that subsidising free licences for all over-75s would have led to 'unprecedented closures'. The petition argues that many pensioners live on the breadline and that the current means-tested system is unfair.
Full DCMS Response
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport provided a detailed response, noting that several TV licence concessions exist, including for over-75s on Pension Credit. The government believes public service broadcasting, especially the BBC, is vital but is committed to the current licence fee and concessions until the end of 2027. It highlighted the expansion of the Simple Payment Plan to help households in financial difficulty, potentially doubling users to 500,000 by 2027.
The government also emphasised its commitment to pensioners through the Triple Lock, with state pension spending forecast to rise by over £30 billion a year by the end of this Parliament. The BBC Charter Review is considering future funding models, and the government is keeping an open mind on new concessions, with no plans to remove existing ones or revisit the over-75s licence decision.
Next Steps
The public consultation on the Green Paper closed on March 10, 2026, and the government is now considering responses. Policy decisions for the next BBC Royal Charter will be outlined in a White Paper expected later this year. To support the petition, people can sign it on the Parliament website.
