A little-known TV Licence rule means approximately 475,000 households could be missing out on annual savings of £174.50. Here’s how to check whether or not you’re eligible
You could well be missing out on savings of £174.50 every single year, without even realising it – a potentially significant boost amid the ongoing Cost of Living crisis.
Eligible individuals could well see their BBC TV Licence reduced to exactly £0, all thanks to a little-known rule. And around 475,000 households up and down the UK could benefit.
If you’re over the age of 75 and if you, or your partner living at the same address, are claiming Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) pension credit, whether that be Savings Credit or Guarantee Pension Credit, you will qualify for a free TV licence.
However, this isn’t an automatic process, and there are some things you should be aware of…
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As previously reported by Birmingham Live, you can check whether or not you’re eligible for a free TV licence by phoning up TV Licensing on 0300 790 6071.
You can also make your application over the phone, should you prefer.
For online or postal applications, you’ll need to present two pieces of evidence to prove that you’re a recipient of Pension Credit and that you’re aged 75 or over. A passport or driving licence can usually be used as one piece of evidence.
It’s important to ensure the name used in your application matches the name on DWP records. Also, if the licence at your home address is under somebody else’s name, you’ll need to have the current licence number to hand when making your application.
If you qualify for a free TV licence, then this covers both yourself and anybody else residing at your home address, regardless of age.
As previously reported by the Mirror, when the licence fee was first introduced in 1946, back when the BBC was the UK’s sole broadcaster, it cost £2 – the equivalent of around £105 in today’s money. As of April 1, 2025, the price was set at £174.50, with viewers seeing an increase from £169.50.
The licence fee applies to households that watch or record shows as they’re being broadcast live on any TV channel, or that watch live programmes using any online TV service, including Channel 4, YouTube, or Amazon Prime Video.
According to GOV.UK, students who reside at another address, which already has a licence, outside of term time, don’t require a licence, and can use that TV Licence during their studies on any device that’s battery powered, isn’t plugged in, and isn’t connected to an aerial.
You also won’t need a licence if you only watch the following specific types of content: streaming services such as Netflix and Disney+, on-demand TV through services like All 4 and Amazon Prime Video, videos on websites like YouTube, or videos or DVDS.
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