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DWP warning as 500,000 entitled to key benefit missing out on free TV licenceYou could be entitled to a free TV licenceNewsAnnabal Bagdi Senior reporter16:51, 01 Jun 2025You could be

entitled to a free TV licence Tens of thousands of people claiming a key benefit are missing out on a free TV licence.

About 500,000 households are entitled to a free £174.50 TV licence but are failing to claim it.

‌ Campaign group Policy in Practice says that some UK households are unaware they are eligible for the free perk.

‌ People claiming Pension Credit from the Department for Work and Pensions ( DWP ) qualify for a free TV licence.

But according to official figures, about 500,000 people who should be receiving the benefit are not claiming it.

Pension Credit is worth about £3,900 a year.

Article continues below READ MORE: DWP State Pension warning to everyone born in these years over bonus £5,496

Deven Ghelani, director of Policy in Practice, said: "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."

You need a TV licence to watch or record TV on any channel on any TV service like Sky, Virgin Media and Freeview.

You also need one to watch live on streaming services like ITVX, All 4, YouTube and Amazon Prime Video and to use BBC iPlayer.

‌ Anyone aged 75 or over and claiming Pension Credit, or living with a partner who receives the benefit, can get a free TV licence.

Pension Credit is awarded to help with living costs if you are over State Pension age and on a low income.

It can also help with housing costs such as ground rent or service charges.

‌ Pension Credit comes in two parts and you could be eligible for one or both parts.

It tops up your weekly income to £227.10 if you’re single or your joint weekly income to £346.60 if you have a partner.

Gov.uk says: "You may get extra amounts if you have other responsibilities and costs.

‌ "The top up and extra amounts are known as 'Guarantee Credit'."

You could get the 'Savings Credit' part of Pension Credit if both of the following apply:

You reached State Pension age before April 6, 2016You saved some money for retirement, for example a personal or workplace pensionArticle continues below The DWP pays £17.30 Savings Credit a

week if you are single or up to £19.36 a week if you have a partner.

Gov.uk says: "You might still get some Savings Credit even if you do not get the Guarantee Credit part of Pension Credit."

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