Living Well at Home UKClear, practical guidance for later life
Benefits and household costs

By Does Your Duck Quack

TV Licence for over-75s: eligibility and help with costs

TV Licence over 75s: learn who qualifies through Pension Credit, how to apply, blind and care-home discounts, payment plans and household rules.

Checked: 13 October 2026 · Next review: 13 April 2027 · Applies to: UK, with nation notes
How this guide was prepared

Purpose: rights guidance · Level: detailed

Checked by: Does Your Duck Quack. Sources are linked below; seek professional advice for individual circumstances.

The short answer

What to do first

TV Licence over 75s: learn who qualifies through Pension Credit, how to apply, blind and care-home discounts, payment plans and household rules.

Start here: The licence holder must be 75 or over, and they or a partner at the same address must receive Pension Credit. An award to another relative or lodger does not meet the partner rule. One licence covers the main address, including younger household members; another address or self-contained flat may need its own licence. Guarantee Credit, Savings Credit or both can qualify; other benefits alone do not.

Visual guides

See the decision at a glance

Concessions for the household
  1. Free licenceThe holder must be 75 or over and they or a partner at the same address must get Pension Credit.
  2. Sight-impaired concessionA 50% discount applies when the licence holder or someone living with them is registered blind or severely sight impaired.
  3. Care accommodationAn eligible residential scheme may hold an ARC licence; ask the manager before cancelling a licence.
  4. Payment planEligible customers may pay monthly or fortnightly over 12 months.
Apply for the free licence
  1. 1. Check Pension CreditConfirm the holder or their partner at the same address receives Pension Credit.
  2. 2. Gather detailsHave the holder’s name, date of birth and National Insurance number ready.
  3. 3. Apply separatelyPension Credit does not automatically change the TV Licence.
  4. 4. Keep evidenceRetain the entitlement letter if records do not match during the application.

Scope of this guide

This guide helps you understand the options and questions to ask. It is not personal medical, legal or financial advice. Check the official sources for your nation and seek qualified help for high-stakes decisions.

Who this guide is for

For someone aged 75 or over checking a household TV Licence, especially where Pension Credit, sight loss or residential care may affect the cost.

A free TV Licence is available to people aged 75 or over when they or a partner at the same address receive Pension Credit. It does not start automatically. Separate concessions apply for registered sight loss and some care-home or sheltered residents. UK rules are broadly the same, but Northern Ireland uses different evidence for sight loss. Check the licence holder, benefit award and any accommodation licence before paying twice.

What to prepare and ask for

1. Check whether the household qualifies for a free licence

The licence holder must be 75 or over, and they or a partner at the same address must receive Pension Credit. An award to another relative or lodger does not meet the partner rule. One licence covers the main address, including younger household members; another address or self-contained flat may need its own licence. Guarantee Credit, Savings Credit or both can qualify; other benefits alone do not.

2. Apply and have the right details ready

Apply through TV Licensing online or by phone; Pension Credit does not automatically change the licence. Use the existing account if possible. Have the licence holder’s name, date of birth and National Insurance number ready, and confirm whether the award belongs to them or their partner. TV Licensing checks with the Department for Work and Pensions. Keep an entitlement letter in case the records do not match, and ensure names correspond.

3. Understand what happens when other people live there

The free licence covers the eligible person’s main household, not a separate discount for each resident. If more than one person aged 75 or over lives there, only one application is needed. A partner’s Pension Credit can qualify the licence holder; another resident’s award does not unless they are the holder’s partner. A second home is not covered. Ask a care or supported-housing manager about its licence before cancelling an individual one.

4. Ask about the blind and severely sight-impaired concession

A 50% concession is available if the licence holder is registered blind or severely sight impaired, or lives with someone who is. The licence must be in the registered person’s name. TV Licensing requires proof of registration and may need the existing licence number. In Northern Ireland, evidence must come from or on behalf of a Health and Social Services Trust. This concession is separate from the Pension Credit route.

5. Check whether a care home or sheltered scheme has an ARC licence

Eligible residential care, supported housing and sheltered accommodation may use an Accommodation for Residential Care licence. Residents must meet the retirement-and-age or disability criteria, and the manager applies. The current annual fee is £7.50 for eligible residents under 75; over-75s may be covered by the scheme or Pension Credit concession. Do not cancel an existing licence or direct debit until the manager confirms coverage. Eligibility depends on the accommodation’s licensing arrangement.

6. Use a payment plan if the household still needs a licence

If no concession applies, TV Licensing offers payment options. Eligible people in financial difficulty may use its Simple Payment Plan, with monthly or fortnightly payments over 12 months. Ask about missed payments and eligibility before choosing. Do not stop an existing arrangement while an application is checked unless TV Licensing confirms coverage. A free money adviser can help check benefit entitlement and payment options.

7. Check Pension Credit if the household does not receive it

Pension Credit is separate from the State Pension and can be payable despite other income, savings or home ownership. Eligibility depends on individual circumstances. Use the Pension Credit guide to prepare a claim. In Northern Ireland, nidirect or the Northern Ireland Pension Centre explains the route. If awarded, apply separately for the TV Licence concession and keep the evidence.

Evidence and questions

Common questions

Do I have to pay for a TV licence at 75?

Turning 75 does not by itself make a TV licence free. You qualify for a free licence if you are 75 or older and receive Pension Credit, or live with a partner who receives it. The licence covers everyone at that address, and you must apply for it. If you qualify while aged 74, you can apply early but still pay until the end of the month before your 75th birthday.

What evidence do I need for a free over-75 TV Licence?

TV Licensing checks the Pension Credit award with the Department for Work and Pensions, so have the licence holder’s details and National Insurance number ready and ensure the names match. If the benefit is paid to a partner, confirm that they live at the same address. Keep an entitlement letter or award record available in case the electronic check needs evidence. Apply using the existing licence account where possible so the concession is linked to the right home.

Is there a TV licence discount for blind or partially sighted people?

A 50% concession is available for someone who is blind, also called severely sight impaired, and provides appropriate evidence. People who are partially sighted, or sight impaired, do not qualify for this concession. The licence must be in the blind person’s name and covers the household. TV Licensing lists accepted certificates and specific evidence for Northern Ireland; check that list before applying or transferring an existing licence.

Do care-home residents need their own TV Licence?

It depends on the accommodation and how televisions are used. Some eligible care homes, supported housing and sheltered schemes use an Accommodation for Residential Care licence, arranged by the manager. Residents may instead be covered by the over-75 Pension Credit concession or another licence arrangement. Ask the administrator to confirm coverage before cancelling an existing licence or payment. A private room or separate dwelling can affect what licence is needed.

What if I cannot afford the TV Licence fee?

Check first whether the household qualifies for the Pension Credit concession or a blind or care-accommodation discount. If a licence is still needed, TV Licensing offers payment methods and an eligible household in financial difficulty may be able to use the Simple Payment Plan. A free money adviser can help check Pension Credit and other support. Do not stop an existing payment plan until you know whether the licence is covered or a new arrangement is active.

Before you act

Write down the outcome you want, the names and dates involved, and the evidence or documents you already have. Ask for important decisions, costs and next steps in writing. If information is unclear, ask which nation’s rules are being used and when the decision will be reviewed.

If there is a delay or disagreement

Keep a short factual record of calls, letters and missed actions. Ask for the responsible person, the written reasons, the complaints or review route and any deadline. Immediate health or safety risks should be escalated separately rather than waiting for a routine complaint.

Differences across the UK

The over-75 Pension Credit concession and licence rules apply across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. In Northern Ireland, contact nidirect or the Northern Ireland Pension Centre about Pension Credit, and sight-impairment evidence for the 50% concession must be issued by or on behalf of a Health and Social Services Trust. Elsewhere, GOV.UK and the local council or ophthalmologist explain evidence for the blind concession. TV Licensing administers the licence and concession in all four nations. Eligible care accommodation and payment-plan criteria are UK-wide, but the manager confirms whether a particular scheme is covered.

Primary sources

The publisher checked this guide against the 10 official sources below. This is an editorial source check, not approval by a clinician, lawyer or benefits adviser.

Editorial note: By Does Your Duck Quack.