DWP gives urgent free TV licence reminder before huge price rise next month
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is reminding thousands of people they could be eligible for a free TV licence.
It comes as the price of a TV licence is set to rise from £159 a year to £169.50 from April 1. But anyone who is aged 75 and over, and who claims Pension Credit, is entitled to a free TV licence. Pension Credit is a benefit that gives you extra money if you're over the state pension age and on a low income. The standard minimum guarantee part of Pension Credit is currently worth £201.05 a week if you’re single, or £306.85 a week if you’re in a couple.
You may be entitled to extra elements on top of this, depending on if you’re a carer, severely disabled, or responsible for a child or young person. But as well as giving you extra cash, Pension Credit is also known as a gateway benefit for other financial support - such as the free TV licence for over-75s.
The DWP estimates those who are entitled to Pension Credit are on average £3,900 a year better off - but estimated 880,000 eligible households are missing out on this benefit. In an update on X, formerly Twitter, the DWP said: "#PensionCredit could give access to extra support, including help with energy costs and a free TV Licence for over 75s."
If you watch or record live TV programmes on any channel, then you'll need to pay for a TV licence. This applies whether you watch on a TV, PC, laptop, tablet, or phone. Failure to have one is a criminal offence, risking a possible £1,000 fine.
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You also need a TV licence if you use BBCiPlayer- even if only watching shows on catch up. However, you do not need one if you're watching shows on catch-up using streaming services such asNetflix, Amazon Prime, ITVX, Disney Plus, YouTube, All 4 or My5. The rules are different if you’re watching live shows through these services, in which case you would need a TV licence.
The UK TV licence is a legal requirement for anyone in the United Kingdom who watches or records live television broadcasts, or uses BBC iPlayer. It's a fee charged by the government to fund the BBC, which is the British Broadcasting Corporation. The licence fee is used to fund the BBC's various services, including television, radio, and online content production.
The revenue generated from TV licence fees helps support the BBC's programming and operations, as it does not carry advertisements on its television channels (with the exception of some sponsorship and product placement in certain cases). The licence fee is payable annually and is enforced by the government agency known as the TV Licensing Authority. Failure to pay the TV licence fee can result in fines and legal action.
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