Winter is well and truly here, with flooding, frost and snow battering the UK in the run-up to Christmas. As people are hit by the extra costs of the festive season, many forget to remember that they may be eligible for financial help from the government. Many areas have recently got so cold that they have triggered Cold Weather Payments, but there’s another way to cut back on costs.
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The fee for a TV licence in the UK is set to increase by 6.7% next year. The price of this licence was already being criticised because it is a flat-rate payment - the poorest households pay exactly the same as the richest - but this new plan has caused a fresh wave of frustration. However, there are groups who can avoid paying the full amount. Here’s how much the licence is, and who is eligible for a discount.
The TV licence fee
Brits are currently paying £159 a year for the right to watch TV. The price had been steadily rising - in 2000, it cost just over £100 - but was frozen in 2022 due to the cost of living crisis. This freeze is to be lifted in April 2024, when the new price of £169.50 will be introduced.
People dodging the payment will face a fine of up to £1,000. However, there are certain groups who are exempt from having to pay the fee, and others who are eligible for a discount. Here’s how to know if you qualify.
People who are exempt from paying
Students whose guardians have a TV licence can stream live TV on a smartphone, tablet or laptop without paying for their own licence. Bizarrely, this is not technically allowed if the device is plugged in or charging, but otherwise it is fine.
Another group of people are eligible for a free TV Licence. This kicks in if you, as the licence holder, are 75 years or older and you, or your partner living at the same address, receive Pension Credit.
People who are eligible for a discount
People who are blind, or share their household with someone who is blind, could be eligible for a reduced TV licence. The blind concession TV licence reduced the annual fee from £159 to £79.50.
According to the UK’s Royal National Institute of Blind People, there are currently 340,000 people registered as blind in the UK who could be missing out on this discount. To be eligible, you have to have one of the following:
- A CVI (Certificate of Visual Impairment)
- A BD8 Certificate
- A certificate or document issued by a Local Authority that shows you are registered as blind (severely sight impaired)
- A copy of a certificate from an Ophthalmologist, stating that you are blind (severely sight impaired)
If you live with someone who is blind, you’ll have to make sure that the license is under their name to access this reduction.
Read more:
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⋙ DWP: First 2024 date of £299 cost of living payment confirmed, are you eligible?
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Sources used:
Express: Everything you need to know about BBC's TV licence fee - Are you eligible for a discount?
Express: TV licence fee: 'Bizarre loophole' lets you watch live shows without paying BBC levy
BBC: BBC funding: TV licence fee to rise by £10.50, government says
