State pensioners born in these years can get free TV licence

The cost of the TV Licence is set to increase again this April, coinciding with a rise in numerous other household bills. This has left many pensioners, who rely on their weekly state pension, searching for ways to make ends meet.

Despite the popularity of streaming platforms such as Netflix, Disney Plus and Amazon Prime Video, almost all households still require a TV licence. Watching any live programme as it's broadcast, or any BBC show, necessitates payment of the £169.50 charge.

With costs set to rise by another £5 to £174.50 in April, now is an opportune time to explore if you can reduce your TV licence costs, potentially even to zero. State pensioners do not automatically qualify for a free TV licence.

Eligibility requires being aged 74 or over, with an income below a certain threshold. This means that only those born in 1951 or earlier may qualify for a free TV licence.

However, your income also needs to be low enough to qualify for Pension Credit, reports the Express. This benefit is awarded to those with a weekly income of less than approximately £218 (£235 for couples).

Anyone who reached state pension age before April 2016 will be on the old basic state pension, which pays only £185 per week. Therefore, unless you have additional income or savings, everyone on the old state pension will be eligible to claim Pension Credit.

It's important to note that obtaining a free TV licence is not an automatic process; it requires an application to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). Those who are receiving Pension Credit are eligible to apply for a free TV licence.

Individuals already on Pension Credit can submit their application for a free TV licence at 74 years of age, rather than waiting until they turn 75. TV Licensing advises: "You can apply for a free TV Licence if You, as the licence holder, are 75 years or older AND you, or your partner living at the same address, receive Pension Credit."

They further clarify: "If you already receive Pension Credit, you can apply for your free licence when you are 74 years old. We'll update your payments to cover you until your 75th birthday, and then you'll be covered by your free licence. We'll confirm this in writing."

Moreover, even for those whose income is too high to qualify for Pension Credit, there is still a potential discount available if anyone in the household is legally blind. In such cases, the TV licence fee can be reduced by half to £84.

This concession applies to the entire household as long as one resident is legally blind.