Pensioners aged 75 or over who receive Pension Credit can get a free TV Licence, saving £180 per year. The standard annual colour licence costs £180, while a black-and-white licence costs £60.50, following an increase on April 1, 2026.
Who qualifies for a free licence
You can get a free TV licence if you’re 75 or older and either get Pension Credit or live with a partner who gets Pension Credit. The licence covers everyone who lives at your address. If you already receive Pension Credit, you can apply from age 74. You’ll still need to pay for your licence until the end of the month before you turn 75, after which your free licence will take effect.
TV Licensing notes that there are separate arrangements in place for over-75s on the Isle of Man, the Bailiwick of Jersey, and the Bailiwick of Guernsey. If you don’t have Pension Credit but think you may be eligible for it, it’s worth checking, TV Licensing suggests.
How to apply
You can apply online. If you would prefer to apply for a free TV Licence by phone, call 0300 790 6117 to speak to an advisor. Lines are open between 8.30am and 6.30pm, from Monday to Friday. Calls to their 0300 numbers cost no more than a national rate call to an 01 or 02 number, whether from a mobile or landline. If you get inclusive minutes, calls to an 0300 number will be included free of charge.
Discounted licences for care homes and blind viewers
You can get a heavily discounted TV Licence if you live in an eligible residential care home, supported housing or sheltered accommodation. TV Licensing says that this is known as an Accommodation for Residential Care (ARC) licence and costs £7.50 per room, flat or bungalow. You must be either retired and over 60 or disabled. You should speak to your care home managers to find out if your accommodation qualifies, as they are responsible for arranging this type of licence, gov.uk advises.
If you’re blind (severely sight-impaired) and can provide the required evidence, you can apply for a 50% concession. Your licence will also cover anyone who lives with you. A blind concession TV Licence costs £90 for colour and £30.25 for black-and-white annually. If you’re partially sighted (sight impaired), you’re not eligible. If someone you live with is blind (severely sight impaired), you can apply for a blind concession, whatever their age. If you already have a TV Licence but it isn’t in the blind person’s name, you’ll need to transfer it into their name by submitting a first-time blind application and entering the existing TV Licence number for your address when you apply.
