Only older people over 75 on Pension Credit are exempt from paying the £174.50 TV licence fee.

More than 6,500 people have signed an online petition urging the UK Government to fund the TV licence fee for all State Pensioners and those who reach the official age of retirement, which is currently 66. Under the existing rules, only older people over the age of 75 in receipt of Pension Credit currently receive a free TV licence, saving £174.50 on the annual fee.

Petition creator Michael Thompson argues that “many pensioners live on the breadline with only the TV for company”. He added: “With the cost of food soaring and utility bills ever higher, we feel there is a desperate need to provide all pensioners with at least this concession.”

Mr Thompson also said: “We feel it is a double outrage that those who have given their all to this country in taxes and raising children have to pay a TV licence fee and are only exempt if they receive means-tested Pension Credit. Meanwhile, some media figures draw huge salaries.”

READ MORE: New call to replace annual TV licence fee of £174.50 with adverts or paywallREAD MORE: New calls to give every household three-month Council Tax payment breather

The ‘Fund free TV licences for all pensioners’ petition has been posted on the UK Government’s petitions-parliament website. At 10,000 signatures of support it would be entitled to a written response, at 100,000, it would be considered by the Petitions Committee for debate in Parliament – you can view it online here.

The UK Government has committed to increasing the BBC TV licence fee in line with inflation each year until 2027. The rise from £169.50 to £174.50 in April followed years in which the licence fee was first frozen and then increased at a slower rate than the BBC expected, leaving the corporation increasingly cash-strapped.

However, the Culture Secretary has left the door open to wealthier households paying more for their TV licence as she considers alternatives to the annual fee. Earlier this year, Lisa Nandy said she could be open to replacing the flat licence fee with a sliding scale after a suggestion by the BBC’s new chairman.

Dr Samir Shah, who took over as chairman in March last year, told the Sunday Times he would be in favour of a more progressive way of paying for the corporation, saying: “Why should people who are poor pay the same as people in wealthy households?”

Ms Nandy said at the time: “We are keen that whatever we do in the charter review that it commands broad public support and that it is progressive. The licence fee is a flat rate. It’s harder for poorer households to pay it and we’ve seen some horrendous cases where the BBC has prosecuted mainly vulnerable women for not paying the licence fee.

“We think that’s completely unacceptable.”

Other options suggested for funding the BBC include a subscription model, but Mr Shah said it “would not meet the BBC’s key role to offer something for everyone in the country”.

Who needs to buy a TV licence?

  • A TV licence is needed in the UK to watch or record any programmes as they are being broadcast live on television
  • It is also required to watch or stream live programming on any online TV streaming service, such as BBC iPlayer, Sky Go, Amazon prime and YouTube

You can check if you need a TV licence on the TV Licensing website here.

Ways to pay for a TV licence

A TV licence costs £174.50. You can pay it all in one go, or:

  • Pay by monthly Direct Debit – from £14.50 per month
  • Pay less for your licence if you’re over 75 on Pension Credit, registered blind, or live in a care home
  • Pay by quarterly Direct Debit – it works out at around £45 per payment
  • Pay weekly, fortnightly or monthly with a TV Licensing payment card (from £6.50 per week) – once the card is set up you can pay online, through the TV Licensing app, by phone, text message or at any PayPoint

Can I get a discount?

Certain groups are entitled to TV licence discounts such as those who live in care homes, who could get it for free or pay a reduced amount if they are part of an Accommodation for Residential Care scheme – find out more here.

People who are registered blind or severely sight impaired are entitled to a half price TV Licence (£87.25) and may be eligible for a refund on payments made in previous years – if they have been the registered TV licence holder.

Free TV Licence for over-75s

If you already receive Pension Credit, you can apply for your free over-75 TV Licence when you are 74 years old. TV Licensing will update your payments to cover you until your 75th birthday, at which point you’ll then be covered by your free licence. They will confirm this in writing.

If you think you’re eligible for a free licence but don’t currently have a TV licence, call 0300 790 6117 and speak to an advisor to request an application form. Lines are open Monday to Friday between 8.30am and 6.30pm.

Get the latest Record Money news

Join the conversation on our Money Saving Scotland Facebook group for money-saving tips, the latest State Pension and benefits news, energy bill advice and cost of living updates.

Sign up to our Record Money newsletter and get the top stories sent to your inbox daily from Monday to Friday with a special cost of living edition every Thursday – sign up here.

You can also follow us on X (formerly Twitter) @Recordmoney_ for regular updates throughout the day or get money news alerts on your phone by joining our Daily Record Money WhatsApp community.