500,000 households could be missing out on free TV licence under little-known DWP rule

An obscure regulation is leaving half a million households in the dark about their entitlement to a free £174.50 annual TV licence. Campaigners from Policy in Practice are sounding the alarm that over 500,000 UK homes could be exempt from the fee but haven't yet staked their claim.

Eligibility for a free licence hinges on claiming Pension Credit, yet data reveals a staggering 500,000 eligible individuals aren't tapping into this benefit, potentially missing out on savings of roughly £3,900 annually.

Deven Ghelani, the director at Policy in Practice, highlighted the issue: "There are almost half a million people over 75 missing out on the free TV licence, most of them because they aren't claiming pension credit when they could. People on pension credit have to first be aware that they are eligible for a free TV licence, and then they have to apply for one. Policy in Practice's local authority partners have contacted the about auto-enrolment, and we are hoping for a positive response."

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To legally watch live television across networks like the BBC, , and Sky, viewers must purchase a TV licence. However, exemptions exist under the current framework.

For instance, those over 75 with pension credit can dodge the licence fee, pocketing an extra £174.50 each year. Astonishingly, there are about 425,000 over-75s who qualify for pension credit based on income but haven't claimed the benefit, reports .

"There are almost half a million people over 75 missing out on the free TV licence, most of them because they aren't claiming pension credit when they could. People on pension credit have to first be aware that they are eligible for a free TV licence, and then they have to apply for one. Policy in Practice's local authority partners have contacted the BBC about auto-enrolment, and we are hoping for a positive response."

Additionally, there are 50,000 individuals already on pension credit who aren't taking advantage of the subsidised TV Licence they're entitled to. To apply for a free TV licence, head over to tvlicensing.co.uk/cs/pay-for-your-tv-licence or alternatively, give them a ring at 0300 790 6071 to apply by phone.

TV Licensing has stated that it "routinely promotes the concessions and support available in the letters we send to customers, directly during calls to our customer service line, and as part of our communications campaigns and social media output".

Pension Credit is up for grabs for those earning less than £11,500 annually in basic income, placing them among the nation's poorest.

How much Pension Credit could I get?

Pension Credit comes in 2 parts. You might be eligible for one or both parts.

What is Guarantee Credit?

Guarantee Credit tops up your weekly income to a guaranteed minimum level. This level is currently:

£227.10 if you’re single

£346.60 if you’re a couple.

What is Savings Credit?

Savings Credit is extra money if you’ve got some savings or if your income is higher than the basic State Pension. It’s available to people who reached State Pension age before 6 April 2016. You could get up to:

£17.30 extra per week if you’re single

£19.36 extra per week if you’re a couple.

By claiming Pension Credit, you might become eligible for other benefits too, such as help with health and housing costs

Can I get Guarantee Credit?

You might be eligible for Guarantee Credit if you've reached State Pension age. This is currently 66 for both men and women.

If you've reached State Pension age, you can claim Guarantee Credit if your weekly income is less than:

• £227.10 if you’re single
• £346.60 if you’re a couple.

Even if your weekly income is higher than these thresholds, you could still claim Guarantee Credit if you meet one of the following criteria:

• you're a carer
• you have a severe disability
• you have certain housing costs, such as service charges
• you're responsible for a child or young person who usually lives with you.

Can I get Savings Credit?

If you reached State Pension age before 6 April 2016 – or if you're a couple and both of you did – you might be eligible to claim Savings Credit.

There isn’t a savings limit for Pension Credit. However, if you have over £10,000 in savings, this will affect how much you receive.

If you're a mixed-age couple (meaning only one of you is over State Pension age), you normally have to claim until you've both reached State Pension age. Then you might be eligible to claim Pension Credit as a couple.