Free TV licence at 75: who qualifies and how to apply

Last checked November 2026. Offers and rules change: confirm with the provider before you rely on them.

You can get a free TV licence if you are 75 or older and you, or a partner living with you, receive Pension Credit. Being 75 on its own is no longer enough. There are also cheaper licences for some care home residents and for people who are registered blind.

The rule in one sentence

A free licence needs two things: someone at the address aged 75 or over, and Pension Credit paid to that person or to their partner at the same address. The free licence then covers everyone living there.

Until 2020, everyone aged 75 or over got a free licence regardless of income. That is no longer the case, and it catches many people out. If you are 75 or over and do not get Pension Credit, you need to pay for a licence if you watch or record live TV on any channel or service, or use BBC iPlayer.

At the time of writing (November 2026), GOV.UK gives the cost of a standard colour TV licence as £180 a year.

How to apply

The free licence is not sent out automatically. You apply to TV Licensing:

online, through the TV Licensing website (linked from the GOV.UK free or discounted TV licence page)
by phone on 0300 790 6071

Have your National Insurance number and your existing licence number to hand if you have them.

You can apply when you are 74 if you already get Pension Credit. You carry on paying until the end of the month before your 75th birthday, and the free licence takes over from there.

Tip: If you are 75 or over and paying for a licence, the first thing to check is whether you could get Pension Credit. A successful claim brings the free licence and a good deal of other help with it.

Other TV licence discounts

Residential care and sheltered housing

If you live in an eligible residential care home or sheltered accommodation, you may be able to get a licence for £7.50 a year. You need to be retired and over 60, or disabled. Your housing manager or care home administrator checks whether the accommodation qualifies and applies on your behalf, so ask them rather than applying yourself.

If you are registered blind

You can get 50% off the licence fee if you are registered blind (severely sight impaired), or live with someone who is. The licence must be in the blind person's name; if it is not, you can ask TV Licensing to transfer it.

If you do not need a licence at all

You do not need a TV licence if you never watch or record programmes as they are being shown on any channel or service, and never use BBC iPlayer. GOV.UK notes you do not need one just to watch streaming services such as Netflix. If that describes you, you can tell TV Licensing you do not need a licence.

Who qualifies: a quick table

Your situation	What you pay
75 or over, and you or your partner get Pension Credit	Nothing (you must apply)
75 or over, no Pension Credit	Full fee
Under 75, any income	Full fee, unless another discount applies
Eligible care home or sheltered housing, retired and over 60 or disabled	£7.50
Registered blind, or living with someone who is	Half the full fee

Common reasons people miss out

Not claiming Pension Credit. This is by far the biggest reason. The licence is only free for people who actually receive Pension Credit, not for those who would be entitled but have not claimed.
Assuming it is automatic at 75. Even with Pension Credit, you still have to apply to TV Licensing.
The licence is in the wrong name. If a late husband or wife held the licence, contact TV Licensing to have it moved into your name.
Not telling TV Licensing when Pension Credit starts. If you are already over 75 and your Pension Credit is awarded later, apply for the free licence straight away.
Not asking in sheltered housing. The £7.50 licence is arranged by the housing manager, and residents are not always told about it.

Watch out: Fake TV Licensing emails and texts are very common. They typically say a payment has failed or that you are due a refund, and ask you to follow a link. Do not click it. Go to the TV Licensing website yourself or phone the number above. Our guides to spotting scams and paying safely online explain what to look for.

Spreading the cost if you do have to pay

If you do not qualify for a free or reduced licence, TV Licensing offers several ways to spread the cost through the year rather than paying in one go. The options are set out on its website. If you are finding bills hard to manage, Citizens Advice or Age UK can carry out a full benefits check with you; our benefits checklist is a good way to prepare. If the television is getting harder to hear or to operate, see our guides to TV headphones and simple TV remotes.

Common questions

I am 75 next month and on Pension Credit. What should I do?

Apply now. You can apply from the age of 74 if you already get Pension Credit, and you keep paying only until the end of the month before your 75th birthday.

My partner gets Pension Credit but I am the one who is 75. Do we qualify?

Yes. GOV.UK says you qualify if you are 75 or older and either you get Pension Credit or you live with a partner who does.

Does the free licence cover my family who live with me?

Yes. The licence covers everyone living at the address.

Do the rules differ in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland?

No. The TV licence, and the free licence for people aged 75 or over on Pension Credit, work the same way across the UK.