A petition calling for pensioners to get a free TV licence to help with the cost of living has gained thousands of signatures onlineThe current State Pension age is 66(Image: Shared Content Unit)

A petition calling for all pensioners to get free TV licences has reached over 2,000 signatures online. The petition claims that people over the age of 66 “should receive a state-financed free TV licence”.

Only certain pensioners are currently eligible for free or discounted TV licences, along with other groups of people such as those who are blind or in residential care.

The petition, on the government’s petitions website, argues that all pensioners in the UK should automatically get a free TV licence because “many pensioners live on the breadline with only the TV for company”.

The petition’s creator Michael Thompson wrote: “We want the Government to fund free TV licences for existing pensioners and those who reach the official retirement age. When people reach retirement age, we think they should receive a state-financed free TV licence.

“Many pensioners live on the breadline with only the TV for company. With the cost of food soaring and utility bills ever higher, we feel there is a desperate need to provide all pensioners with at least this concession.

“We feel it is a double outrage that those who have given their all to this country in taxes and raising children have to pay a TV licence fee and are only exempt if they receive means-tested Pension Credit. Meanwhile, some media figures draw huge salaries.”

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So far, 2,864 people have signed the petition – which will run until December 11. If it gains 10,000 signatures the government will respond to it, and if it surpasses 100,000 it will be considered for debate in Parliament.

Currently, you can only get a free TV licence as a pensioner if you’re 75 or over and you get 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, but you’ll still need to pay for your licence until the end of the month before your 75th birthday.

Other reductions include if you’re in residential care or sheltered accommodation, and if you’re registered blind. Full information can be found on the gov.uk website.

A standard colour TV Licence in the UK costs £174.50 per year, which can be paid either as a one-off payment annually, via a monthly or quarterly direct debit, or through various other methods such as a payment card or postal orders.

The petition can be found online on Parliament’s website.

It comes after a dad won a court battle with TV licensing last month after he cancelled his payments to watch streaming services. Lee Stuart was taken to court after he didn’t pay his TV licence – even though he had previously explained to a TV Licensing inspector that he didn’t need one.