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£7.50 TV Licence: Eligibility Rules and How to Apply

The annual licence has been £174.50 since April 2025 with future increases linked to CPI through 2027.

Overview

  • Residents of eligible care homes, supported housing or sheltered accommodation can get a £7.50 licence if they are retired and over 60 or have a disability.
  • Eligibility for the £7.50 rate is checked by the housing manager, who submits the application on the resident’s behalf.
  • People registered as blind, or living with someone who is, receive a 50% discount, reducing a colour licence to £87.25, and the licence must be in the blind person’s name.
  • Pension Credit recipients can request a free TV Licence at age 74, but they must keep paying until the end of the month before their 75th birthday.
  • A TV Licence is required to watch live television or use BBC iPlayer, and the black-and-white licence currently costs £58.50 per year.