TV Licensing
- / Cost of living support
Cost of living support
We’re doing all we can to help people, particularly those in need of extra support. Here you’ll find all you need to advise your clients about the discounted TV Licences available. And whether they can get one.
The licence fee and discounts are decided by the Government. There are discounts for people who are:
- Aged 75 or over and receive Pension Credit
- Blind (severely sight impaired)
- In residential care and are disabled, or over 60 and retired
If your client gets Pension Credit, they could get a free TV Licence
The BBC provides more than 700,000 free licences for over-75s on Pension Credit. Your client can apply for one if:
- They are aged 75 or older, and they, or their partner living at the same address, receive Pension Credit
Find more information on applying for a free licence.
It’s worth checking if your client is eligible for Pension Credit. Even if they have a pension, savings or own their home, they could still be entitled to it.
- Top up their retirement income
- The average Pension Credit payment is over £67 a week
- It allows them to claim a free TV Licence
- It can also help with, housing costs, heating bills, council tax and NHS dental care
Anyone can check if they’re eligible by calling the Department for Work and Pensions on 0800 99 1234 (open 8.00am-6.00pm). Or visiting gov.uk/pension-credit.
If your client lives in Northern Ireland, call the Northern Ireland Pension Centre on 0808 100 6165. Or visit nidirect.gov.uk/pension-credit.
Support for people who are blind (severely sight impaired)
If your client is blind (severely sight impaired) and can provide evidence, they could get a half price TV Licence. This will also cover anyone they live with.
When applying for their licence they’ll need to provide a copy of one of these documents as evidence:
- A Certificate of Visual Impairment
- A BD8 certificate
- A certificate or document from a local authority that confirms they’re blind
- A copy of a certificate from an Ophthalmologist (eye surgeon), stating that they are blind (severely sight impaired)
- Tax coding notice from HMRC showing they receive Blind person’s allowance
- A copy of your National Registration Card signed by an Ophthalmologist stating that they are blind (severely sight impaired)
- DHSS documentation or certificate stating that they are blind (severely sight impaired) for Isle of Man residents only
- Health and Social Services documentation or letter from Optometrist (for residents of Northern Ireland only)
If your client lives with someone who is blind, they can also apply for a discounted TV Licence, regardless of their age. And if your client already has a licence, they can transfer it over into that person’s name. They just need to apply for their first blind licence.
Discounts for residential care homes and sheltered accommodation
A manager of a residential care home, supported housing or sheltered accommodation can get a discounted TV Licence for residents, if they are eligible.
They can apply for a licence called an ‘Accommodation for Residential Care’ (ARC). It costs £7.50 per room, flat or bungalow. And it’s free for residents aged over 75
For an accommodation to get an ARC licence, it needs to be:
- A care home
- An independent school (for disabled children)
- An almshouse
- Sheltered/supported accommodation
Read more information on eligible accommodation.
Residents qualify if they’re:
- Retired (aged 60 or over and either retired, or working less than 15 hours a week)
- Disabled*
*They have substantially impaired sight, hearing or speech, a mental disorder, or are physically disabled by illness, any impairment present from birth or otherwise.
Please ask your client to contact to contact the manager of the accommodation to apply. Please remind them not to cancel an existing licence or Direct Debit (if this is how they pay) until the manager has confirmed that they have been added to the ARC licence.More information is available for residents.
More information is available for a manager on applying for an ARC licence.