Campaigners demanding free television licences for all state pensioners have received an update as a petition that could force a parliamentary showdown nears a key threshold. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), overseen by Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy, has issued a new statement on the issue, confirming it is 'keeping an open mind' about 'new concessions' for households.
Petition Gains Momentum
The petition, which has attracted support from almost 40,000 people, is nearly halfway to securing 100,000 signatures. If it reaches that milestone, it will be put forward for a parliamentary debate, putting pressure on Culture Secretary Nandy to consider the arguments. Ministers would then have to defend the official position in Parliament and provide updates. However, people have only until July 21 to sign before the petition closes.
Current TV Licence Costs and Concessions
The standard TV licence fee costs £180 per year and is the main source of funding for all BBC television, radio, and online services, including iPlayer, Sounds app, World Service, and radio stations. According to the BBC's 2024/2025 annual report, the broadcaster's income from the licence fee was £3.8 billion, with 23.8 million licences in force. Even if a user does not watch BBC programmes, a licence is legally required to watch or record live TV on any channel or service, including Sky and Freeview, watch live on streaming services such as YouTube and Amazon Prime Video, or use BBC iPlayer.
Currently, pensioners are eligible for a free TV licence only if they or their partner residing at the same address are 75 years or older and in receipt of Pension Credit. Universal free TV licences for 3.7 million pensioners aged 75 and over formally ended on 31 July 2020. The BBC argued at the time that subsidising free licences for all over-75s would have resulted in 'unprecedented closures'.
Petition Demands
The petition states: 'We want the Government to fund free TV licences for existing pensioners and those who reach the official retirement age. When people reach retirement age, we think they should receive a state-financed free TV licence. Many pensioners live on the breadline with only the TV for company. With the cost of food soaring and utility bills ever higher, we feel there is a desperate need to provide all pensioners with at least this concession. We feel it is a double outrage that those who have given their all to this country in taxes and raising children have to pay a TV licence fee and are only exempt if they receive means-tested Pension Credit. Meanwhile, some media figures draw huge salaries.'
Government Response
The DCMS commented: 'There are a number of TV licence concessions available, including for over-75s in receipt of pension credit. There is no BBC concession to provide free TV licences for all pensioners at this time. TV Licence concessions are set out in legislation and are currently available to people who are registered blind or severely sight impaired, as well as to over-75s in receipt of pension credit, and people living in qualifying residential care who are disabled or over 60 years old. The Government is committed to the current licence fee and its available concessions for the remainder of this Charter period, until the end of 2027.'
On the possibility of future changes, the department added: 'We are also keeping an open mind about new concessions and are considering a range of options to better account for different household situations. As set out in the Charter Review Green Paper, we do not plan to remove any existing concessions. We also do not plan to revisit the decision on over-75s licences as the BBC provides a concession for over-75s on pension credit which targets those most in need of support. It was estimated the cost of the TV licence concession for all over-75s could reach around £745 million per annum prior to its amendment in 2020.'
Potential Reforms
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has indicated she could be open to replacing the flat licence fee with a sliding payment scale, following a suggestion by BBC chairman Samir Shah. She criticised the current flat fee, saying it meant 'poorer people pay proportionately more than anybody else.' Currently, there are three concessions funded from licence fee income: free TV licences for over-75s in receipt of pension credit, half-priced licences for the severely sight impaired or blind, and an annual fee of £7.50 for people living in some types of care.
