Who is eligible for free TV licence as price to rise this week

Any household that watches or records live TV on any channel or uses BBC iPlayer must have a TV licence

The annual cost of a TV licence will rise from £174.50 to £180 from April 1, but millions of people across the UK could be entitled to get one for free. The TV licence fee pays for BBC shows and services, and its cost increase is in line with inflation every year until 2027, following an agreement made back in 2022.

A TV licence gives you access to over 400 channels. You also need a licence to stream programmes on BBC iPlayer. The price of a TV licence increased by £5 last year, and by £10.50 in 2024.

The upcoming increase will provide the BBC with “stable financial footing” to deliver for audiences and support the wider creative industries. The increase follows the methodology of calculating the licence fee in line with the consumer price index (CPI) until the end of the BBC Charter Period.

This means the cost of an annual colour TV licence will rise by £5.50, or the equivalent of an extra 46p a month.

Any household that watches or records live TV on any channel or uses BBC iPlayer must have a TV licence. If you wish to access BBC television and radio programmes on iPlayer an email address, date of birth and postcode must be provided.

Watching live TV or using BBC iPlayer without a valid licence is a criminal offence that can result in a maximum fine of £1,000 in the UK.

You are entitled to a free TV licence if:

• you aged 75 or older
• you, or your partner living at the same address, receive Pension Credit

If you qualify, the licence covers everyone living at the address. People eligible can apply for a TV licence when they are 74, with the free licence starting at age 75.

Government guidance said: “You can apply when you’re 74 if you already get Pension Credit. You’ll still need to pay for your licence until the end of the month before your 75th birthday. After that you’ll be covered by your free licence.”

If you’re in residential care or sheltered accommodation you can get a TV licence for £7.50.

According to TV Licencing, if you are blind and can provide appropriate evidence, you are eligible to apply for a 50% concession.

If you or someone you live with is blind (severely sight impaired), regardless of their age, you can apply for the discounted price. If you are partially sighted (sight impaired) you are not eligible. The licence must be in the blind person’s name and if it’s not, you can make a new application to transfer it into their name.

You can apply for a free licence online at www.tvlicensing.co.uk or apply by phone at 0300 790 6071.

Most people spread the cost by paying by Direct Debit. Payments are made and renew automatically so you don’t have to worry about remembering to pay. You can also make a one-off payment instead.

You may receive a renewal reminder by post, email, or text before your TV licence expires. Your TV licence starts on the day you buy it and lasts for up to a year.

TV licence detection vans are still in operation, and the TV Licensing website said: “We have a fleet of detector vans that can detect the use of TV receiving equipment at specifically targeted addresses within minutes.”