While dwelling prices stay excessive, Britons are being urged to verify in the event that they’re entitled to any further help. One invoice folks typically overlook to think about is the TV licence.
Priced at £159 a yr, the price can add vital stress to an individual’s funds, relying on which manner they select to pay it.
For many, renewing the TV licence is commonplace, nevertheless, there are particular circumstances that might imply an individual is entitled to pay a decrease price.
If circumstances are met, folks can declare reductions starting from 50 % to one hundred pc, which can assist make a sizeable value saving.
Discounts can be found to people who find themselves severely blind, folks aged over 75 years outdated that obtain Pension Credit, and people residing in care houses. The quantity of low cost an individual receives depends upon which group the particular person falls into.
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Who is entitled to a 50 % low cost?
People who're blind (severely sight impaired), or stay with somebody who's blind, could possibly be eligible to assert a blind concession TV licence.
This would scale back the annual price from £159 to £79.50 for a color TV licence and £26.75 for a black and white TV licence.
To declare the blind concession licence, folks should present a minimum of one of many following paperwork to substantiate they're licensed as blind:
For individuals who stay with somebody who's blind and already has a TV licence, they’ll need to switch the licence into the identify of the one that is blind, with the intention to declare.
However, it should be famous that those that are partially sight impaired is not going to qualify for a reduction.
Who is entitled to a free TV licence?
If a TV licence holder is 75 years or older they usually, or their associate dwelling on the identical handle, obtain Pension Credit, they could possibly be entitled to a full low cost.
Pension Credit is a profit that tops up the state pension for folks on a low revenue, but it surely has a considerably low take-up regardless of many being eligible, based on the charity Independent Age.
After April’s DWP profit uprate, Guarantee Credit can now high up an individual’s revenue to a minimum of £201.05 per week for single folks and £306.85 for {couples}. Savings Credit now pays as much as £15.94 additional per week for single folks or £17.84 per week for {couples}.
So, it could possibly be time for folks to verify in the event that they’re eligible for Pension Credit, as it may additionally assist folks declare different issues like housing profit, or assist with heating payments, council tax, NHS dental care, and so forth.
People who're 75 or over and stay in a residential care dwelling could also be coated by an ARC (Accommodation for Residential Care) TV licence and in addition gained’t need to pay for a licence - even when they don’t obtain Pension Credit. TV Licencing advises folks to talk to their care dwelling administrator to search out out.
When do folks want a TV licence?
All households within the UK that watch stay TV should personal a licence. This contains all programmes on any channel and the identical guidelines apply to those that watch stay TV from a laptop computer, PC, pill, or telephone.
A licence can be wanted if a family downloads or watches programmes broadcast on BBC iPlayer - stay, catch up, or on demand.
However, they won't want a licence in the event that they solely ever watch catch-up TV (not together with BBC) or streaming providers like Netflix or Disney+.
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