State pensioners over age 75 can cut the BBC TV Licence bill to £0 in 16 minutes – ahead of the price hike in April. If you’re 75 or over and you get Pension Credit, you can get a free TV licence.

If you’re blind or in residential care, you can get a discounted TV licence. Pension Credit claims typically take 16 minutes, according to the Department for Work and Pensions, or DWP.

You can get a free TV licence if you’re 75 or older and you either get Pension Credit OR live with your partner who gets Pension Credit. The licence covers everyone living at your address.

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You can apply when you’re 74 if you already get Pension Credit. You’ll still need to pay for your licence until the end of the month before your 75th birthday. After that you’ll be covered by your free licence.

The cost of a TV licence is to rise by £5.50 to £180 from 1 April, the government has announced.

A TV licence currently costs £174.50. It increased by £5 last year, and £10.50 in 2024. A BBC spokesman said: “The licence fee ensures the BBC has the financial stability it needs to deliver for audiences and support the creative industries across the UK.

“It funds the full range of BBC services and helps us deliver trusted news, the best homegrown storytelling, and unmissable content that brings people together.”

The statement continued: “The government is currently considering the BBC’s next Royal Charter and future funding arrangements beyond 2027.

“We welcome this debate and have been clear we want reform so we can continue to deliver a public service BBC that is independent, sustainably funded for the long-term, and meets audience needs for generations to come.”

A spokesman for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) said: “The government recognises the financial pressures on households and is committed to ensuring the BBC’s funding model is sustainable, fair and affordable.

“The government has committed to the licence fee for the remainder of this charter period.

“To support the public with the cost of the TV licence, we will also continue to support the simple payment plan to spread payments through smaller instalments.”

They added: “Free licences remain available for over-75s on pension credit, with reduced fees for care home residents and blind individuals.”