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Help with paying for your TV licence or phone

You can read through this information sheet, or go directly to the sections you want to read by clicking on these links:

• TV cost
• Telephone

TV costs

Television licence

If you are registered blind with your local authority, you qualify for a 50% reduction in the cost of your television licence.

For more details, contact TV Licensing (link opens in a new window) on: 0844 800 5870.

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Help when they switch your television over to digital

All television services in the UK are being switched over from analogue to digital. It is happening region by region. If you do not already have digital television, you will need to convert your television equipment.

You can get help with this if you or your partner are registered blind or as partially-sighted, or get Disability Living Allowance, Attendance Allowance or certain other disability benefits. You can also get help if you have lived in a care home for at least six months.

You have to pay £40 towards the help unless you get benefits like Pension Credit or Income Support. In these cases, the help is free.

For more information, you can phone: 0845 6 50 50 50.

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Telephone

If you are registered as disabled, or if you get certain disability-related benefits such as income-related Employment and Support Allowance, you might qualify for the BT Basic scheme. 

This gives you a reduced price on your British Telecom (BT) telephone line rental and an allowance of free calls. For more details, go to the BT website (link opens in a new window) 

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This information has been produced by Citizens Advice. 

Date of publication: 1 April 2011