Supporting People 75+ with TV Licensing Needs

Clare Clark* explains how she makes sure people over 75 have the information and support they need about TV Licences.

Published: 16/07/2021; This article is 33 months old

I joined TV Licensing earlier this year and have been reaching out to many charities and community organisations to understand the needs of their clients. This is so I can provide the information and support they need to help them to be correctly licensed.

TV Licensing (TVL) works with organisations across the UK to ensure licence fee payers are supported with information about when a licence is needed, the concessions available and manageable ways to pay. This has been particularly important over the past 12 months, due to the changes to TV Licences for over 75s.

Over 75s

Free TV Licences for over 75s, which were funded by the Government, ended in July 2020. Now, anyone aged 75 or over must either pay for their licence or if they are receiving Pension Credit, they can apply for free TV Licence, paid for by the BBC.

The latest figures show more than 9 in 10 over 75 households have now either made arrangements for a free or paid licence or updated us on changes in their circumstances. We are enormously grateful for the high level of support that over 75s customers have shown for the licence fee.

As we have now reached a situation where over 75s households are in line with the general population, the extended transition period which was in place due to Covid-19 will end on 31 July 2021.

After this date, anyone who watches or records live TV programmes on any channel, on any device, or downloads or watches BBC programmes on BBC iPlayer, must be covered by a valid TV Licence.

TV Licensing is writing to those who have yet to made arrangements to explain the simple steps they can take to get set up and we’ll make it clear that advice and support are on hand should people need it.

The support we provide will also include customer care visits for those who require further assistance. These were promised at the beginning of this process but can now take place, subject to any further Covid-19 restrictions, and will begin in the autumn.

Spreading the cost

Payment plans are available to help customers spread the cost and you don’t need to leave your home to make arrangements. Customers can contact us by post, online or via a dedicated phone line on 0300 790 6151 (until 31 July).

Information about Pension Credit and how to check whether someone is eligible for a free licence is included on all of TV Licensing’s mailings and included on the TV Licensing Website. Applicants need to be receiving Pension Credit in their name, or in their partner’s name if they are a couple and living at the same address.

You can also use the Turn2us Benefits Calculator to check your entitlement to Pension Credit and read the Turn2us Pension Credit guide.

Concessions for people who are blind (severely sight impaired)

If you or someone you live with is blind (severely sight impaired), regardless of their age, and can provide the appropriate evidence, you are eligible to apply for a 50% reduction in the cost of your television licence. The full list of documents you can use as evidence can be found on the website. The licence will also cover anyone who lives with you.

For more information, see the Blind (severely sight impaired) page on the TV Licensing website

Those who are partially sighted (sight impaired) aren’t eligible for this concession.

Accommodation for Residential Care (ARC) concessionary TV Licence

Customers who live in residential care homes, supported housing or sheltered accommodation may be eligible for an Accommodation for Residential Care (ARC) concessionary TV Licence. Applications for these types of licences are made by the manager of the home, so talk to yours and find out if this is something which is applicable to you.

More information is available on the Care home and sheltered accommodation residents page of the TV Licensing website.

Where to get help

Information on the various ways to pay, the concessions and more details about when a licence is needed can all be found on the TV Licensing website. Alternatively you can call 0300 790 6112.

If you want to write to TV Licensing, the address is:

TV Licensing

Darlington

DL98 1TL

* Clare Clark is Senior Communications Specialist – Stakeholder Engagement, TV Licensing