In a move that could provide significant savings for some households, the UK government has announced that certain individuals may qualify for a discounted TV licence fee of just £7.50. This reduced rate is exclusively available to residents of care homes or sheltered accommodation who meet specific criteria.
According to the official government guidance, the £7.50 TV licence is accessible to those who are retired and over the age of 60, or have a disability. “You can get a TV Licence for £7.50 if you live in an eligible residential care home, supported housing or sheltered accommodation,” the GOV.UK advice explains. “Your housing manager can check if you can get it and will apply for you.”
Additionally, further reductions are available for those registered as blind or receiving Pension Credit from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). Pension Credit is a means-tested payment for individuals above State Pension age with limited incomes, designed to increase weekly earnings to £227.10 for single claimants or £346.60 for couples.
Those in receipt of Pension Credit can request a free TV Licence upon reaching the age of 74, although they will still be liable for payment until the month preceding their 75th birthday. Beyond this milestone, they will be covered by the complimentary licence.
Furthermore, people registered as blind, or those living with someone who is, are eligible for a 50% reduction on their TV Licence, lowering the cost of a colour licence to £87.25.
The announcement of these discounted TV Licence options comes as the overall cost of the annual fee increased to £174.50 in April 2025, following a 2.9% rise aligned with the Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation. This adjustment represents the second fee increase since April 2021.
Going forward, the government has stated that licence fee increases will be linked to CPI inflation for the next four years, concluding in 2027. For those eligible for the reduced-price or free TV Licences, this could provide much-needed financial relief during these challenging economic times.
