BBC TV License Fee Age Petition: Free Licences for Pensioners

UK pensioners fighting to keep Coronation Street on their screens without paying £159 a year have found an ally in two parliamentary petitions. The campaign pushing the government to restore free TV licences for all older viewers has gained momentum, with official responses now on record. Here’s where the rules stand right now.

Free TV licences for over-75s: Available if receiving Pension Credit ·
Key petition: petition.parliament.uk/petitions/700117 ·
Second petition: petition.parliament.uk/petitions/728658 ·
Age UK campaign: Save free TV for older people ·
Current exemptions: Over-75s on Pension Credit via BBC

Key facts at a glance

These are the official parameters around free TV licences for seniors, gathered from government and parliamentary sources.

At what age do you stop paying the BBC licence fee?

The threshold for a free TV licence in the UK is 75 — but only if you’re also receiving Pension Credit. Before August 2020, the government covered this cost for all over-75s regardless of income. That’s no longer the case.

Over-75s on Pension Credit

The shift from universal to means-tested support happened on 1 August 2020. That’s when the government-funded free TV licence scheme ended, and the BBC took over responsibility under the terms of the 2015 licence fee settlement. Since then, free TV licences for over-75s are available only to households where someone receives Pension Credit (either Guarantee Credit, Savings Credit, or both).

The concession covers the entire household, so anyone living with an eligible over-75s Pension Credit recipient doesn’t need their own licence. If you’re already receiving Pension Credit, you can apply from age 74 — coverage kicks in after the month before your 75th birthday.

Petitions for broader age exemptions

Two petitions on the UK Parliament website have pushed for the government to fund free TV licences for all pensioners, regardless of Pension Credit status. Petition 700117 called for free TV licences for all pensioners and received an official government response on 30 January 2025. Petition 728658 closed on 15 September 2025 with 15,986 signatures — well below the 100,000-signature threshold needed to trigger a parliamentary debate.

The government’s response to both petitions was consistent: no plans to introduce a new concession for all pensioners, citing the BBC’s existing responsibility for the over-75s scheme. For now, pensioners who don’t receive Pension Credit must pay the full licence fee.

Who is exempt from a TV Licence in the UK?

Exemptions from the TV licence requirement in the UK fall into two broad categories: complete free coverage and partial discounts. Knowing which applies to you can save £159 a year.

Pension Credit recipients over 75

This is the primary exemption driving current petitions and campaign activity. TV Licensing confirms that free TV licences remain available for over-75s who receive Pension Credit, administered and funded directly by the BBC. The concession is not being scrapped for this group.

Applications can be made online at tvlicensing.co.uk or by calling 0300 790 6117. TV Licensing provides written confirmation once a free licence is approved. For help checking Pension Credit eligibility, the DWP helpline is 0800 99 1234.

Other concessions

Beyond the over-75s Pension Credit rule, there are two other notable concessions. First, people who are registered blind or severely sight impaired qualify for a 50% discount on their TV licence. Second, residents of certain qualifying residential care homes — for those aged 60 or over, or disabled residents of any age — may be eligible for discounted rates.

Regional variations also apply. Northern Ireland follows the same rules as England and Wales but offers the Northern Ireland Pension Centre helpline (0808 100 6165) for Pension Credit queries. However, the Isle of Man, Jersey, Guernsey, and Sark operate under different rules for free TV licences.

Who can get a 50% discount on their TV licence?

The 50% discount is specifically for people who are registered blind or severely sight impaired. This isn’t a means-tested benefit — it’s tied directly to visual impairment registration with a local authority.

Blind or severely sight impaired

If you’re registered as blind or severely sight impaired with your council, you qualify for a 50% reduction on your TV licence fee. The discount applies to the standard colour TV licence rate. To claim, you need to contact TV Licensing directly and provide proof of your registration status.

Eligibility details

The application process for the blind concession mirrors the over-75s process — you can apply online through TV Licensing’s website or call 0300 790 6117. You’ll need to show documentation confirming your visual impairment registration.

What is the loophole for BBC licence fee?

The phrase “TV licence loophole” gets thrown around online, sometimes in connection with iPlayer, streaming services, or detector vans. Let’s separate what’s real from what’s myth.

Watching non-live content

You don’t need a TV licence to watch live TV broadcasts from any channel, but you do need one to watch BBC iPlayer — whether the content is live or on-demand. Watching recorded programmes, catch-up services, and streaming from non-BBC providers is licence-free, provided you’re not streaming them as they air.

Petition context

The petitions currently circulating aren’t about iPlayer or streaming technically — they’re about extending the age-based exemption. One petition specifically asks the government to fund free TV licences for all pensioners reaching retirement age, not just those on Pension Credit. The government’s position remains that the BBC already administers the current over-75s concession, and expanding it further isn’t under consideration.

Who qualifies for free TV licence?

Eligibility for a free TV licence in the UK is narrowly defined. Here’s the direct answer and the practical details.

Over-75s rules

As of 1 August 2020, the only route to a free TV licence for older people runs through Pension Credit. To qualify, you must be aged 75 or over and receiving Pension Credit (Guarantee Credit, Savings Credit, or both). That’s it for the universal rule — there’s no free licence for over-60s, over-65s, or pensioners generally unless they’re on this specific benefit.

The free licence covers everyone at the address, not just the eligible recipient. So a married couple where one person is 75+ and on Pension Credit doesn’t need a separate licence for the other household members.

Attendance Allowance query

A common question is whether receiving Attendance Allowance — the non-means-tested disability benefit for over-65s — qualifies someone for a free TV licence. The answer is no. Attendance Allowance has no connection to TV licence exemptions. Only Pension Credit triggers eligibility for the free over-75s concession.