Turning 75 checklist: what to claim and check

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

Only one new entitlement starts at 75, the free TV licence for people on Pension Credit, but it is a good moment to check you are claiming everything and that home is set up to stay safe and comfortable. Print this page and tick things off.

Money

• If you get Pension Credit, apply for your free TV licence. You can apply shortly before your 75th birthday.
• If you do not get Pension Credit, check again. Circumstances change, and many people who qualify have never claimed.
• Ask Citizens Advice or Age UK for a free benefits check, or work through the benefits checklist.
• If daily tasks have become harder, claim Attendance Allowance. It does not depend on income or savings.
• Check your council tax discounts and that you are on the cheapest way of paying for energy, broadband and insurance.

Home and safety

• Walk round with the room-by-room falls checklist: lighting, loose rugs, stairs, bathroom.
• Ask your council for a needs assessment before buying mobility or bathroom aids. Small aids and adaptations are often free.
• Consider a personal alarm and a key safe if you live alone.
• Check you are on the Priority Services Register for energy, water and phone.
• Find out what the landline switchover means for your phone and any alarm that uses it.
• Have electric blankets checked or replaced: see heated throws and electric blankets.

Getting about

• Your driving licence must be renewed every three years after 70. Check the date on yours.
• Have a sight test if it is more than a year or two since your last one.
• Check your bus pass and railcard expiry dates.
• Look at community transport and taxi card schemes near you, even if you do not need them yet.

Paperwork

• Put a lasting power of attorney in place if you have not already.
• Check your will still says what you want.
• Keep an up-to-date folder of important papers, and tell someone you trust where it is.
• Reread how to spot a scam, and bookmark the scam checker.

Earlier lists: turning 60 and State Pension age. The full guides are what you get at 75 and what you get at 80.

Common questions

Is the TV licence free for everyone over 75?

No. It is free only if you, or your partner at the same address, receive Pension Credit. Everyone else pays the standard fee.

Do I have to take a driving test at 75?

No. There is no test at any age. You renew your licence every three years from 70 and declare that you meet the eyesight and health standards.

Who can help me go through all this?

Age UK and Citizens Advice both offer free benefits checks and help with forms. Your council's adult social care team arranges needs assessments for equipment and care.