Can over-75s still get a free TV licence in the UK?

Full answer

The universal free TV licence for everyone aged 75 and over ended in August 2020. Responsibility for funding it passed from the government to the BBC, which restricted eligibility to keep it affordable. Today a free licence is only available to a household where someone aged 75 or over receives Pension Credit. The Pension Credit can be claimed by the licence holder or by their partner who lives at the same address; either route makes the household eligible. If no one in the household over 75 gets Pension Credit, the full TV licence fee is payable like any other household. This means the benefit is now means-tested rather than age-based. Who it affects: many older households that previously paid nothing now pay the fee, while the lowest-income pensioners on Pension Credit keep a free licence. There is an important knock-on effect -- Pension Credit is widely under-claimed, and claiming it not only tops up income but also unlocks the free licence plus other passported help such as housing and council tax support. The new full State Pension is GBP 241.30 per week (around GBP 12,548 a year) for 2026/27, and some pensioners on or near that level may still qualify for Pension Credit depending on savings and circumstances, so it is worth checking. To apply for the free licence, first claim and start receiving Pension Credit, then contact TV Licensing with the National Insurance number and date of birth of the person aged 75 or over. The licence then covers everyone living at that address. The exact annual licence fee is set separately and is not listed here -- check the current TV Licensing rate. There is no calculator for the licence itself, but a pension calculator can help you plan retirement income.

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