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Concessionary TV Licence 2026

Three official concessions cut the £180 fee: a free licence for over-75s on Pension Credit, a £90 blind concession, and the £7.50 ARC care-home scheme. Here is who qualifies for each and how to apply.

Direct answer

A concessionary TV licence is a reduced or free licence for people who qualify under one of TV Licensing's three official concessions: a free licence for over-75s who receive Pension Credit, a 50% blind concession that halves the fee to £90, and the Accommodation for Residential Care (ARC) scheme at £7.50 a year for qualifying care-home residents. There is no general low-income or benefits discount: everyone else pays the standard £180 colour licence.

Over-75 on Pension Credit

£0

free with Pension Credit

Blind concession (50%)

£90

half the £180 colour fee

ARC care-home scheme

£7.50

per year, qualifying residents

The three concessions at a glance

ConcessionWho qualifiesColour feeB&W fee
Over-75 free licenceYou are 75+ and you or your partner get Pension Credit£0£0
Blind concession (50%)Someone at the address is registered blind (severely sight impaired)£90£30.25
ARC care-home schemeQualifying resident of a registered care home (usually 60+, disabled or retired)£7.50£7.50
No concession (standard)Everyone else who watches live TV or uses BBC iPlayer£180£60.50

Fees effective from 1 April 2026. Blind B&W figure is 50% of the £60.50 monochrome licence. Sources: TV Licensing published concessions; DCMS 2022 Licence Fee Settlement.

1. Free over-75 licence

A free licence is available if you are 75 or over and you, or a partner living at the same address, receive Pension Credit. The universal free over-75 licence ended in August 2020, so reaching 75 is no longer enough on its own. You apply to TV Licensing and provide proof of Pension Credit; once granted, the licence costs nothing and covers the whole household. An over-75 who does not receive Pension Credit pays the full £180.

Full detail, including how to apply and what happens if your Pension Credit stops, is on the over-75 TV licence guide.

2. Blind concession (50% off)

If someone living at your address is registered blind (severely sight impaired), the household qualifies for a 50% discount. That brings a colour licence down to £90, or a black and white licence to £30.25. The licence must be issued in the name of the blind person, but it then covers everyone at the address. You apply to the TV Licensing Blind Concession Group with proof, either a copy of your certificate of registration or a certificate from an ophthalmologist. Being partially sighted does not qualify.

See the blind TV licence discount guide for the application steps and the evidence accepted.

3. ARC care-home scheme (£7.50)

The Accommodation for Residential Care (ARC) concession lets qualifying residents of registered care homes pay just £7.50 a year. It typically applies to residents aged 60 or over, or who are disabled or retired, living in a care home, nursing home, sheltered housing scheme or almshouse. You do not apply yourself: the care home holds the ARC status and arranges licensing on residents' behalf, so ask the manager whether the home is registered.

The ARC care-home scheme guide explains what accommodation qualifies and how the £7.50 licence is arranged.

There is no low-income or general benefits concession

Universal Credit, Housing Benefit, PIP, Attendance Allowance and the state pension do not reduce the fee. If affordability is the issue, the Simple Payment Plan spreads the cost into smaller, more frequent payments instead. Always check your own eligibility at tvlicensing.co.uk or with Citizens Advice.

Common Questions

What is a concessionary TV licence?
It is a reduced-price or free licence for people who qualify under one of TV Licensing's official concessions. There are three: a free licence for over-75s on Pension Credit, a 50% blind concession that halves the fee to £90, and the Accommodation for Residential Care (ARC) scheme at £7.50 a year for qualifying care-home residents. Anyone who does not qualify for one of these pays the standard £180 colour licence (or £60.50 for a black and white licence).
Who qualifies for a free TV licence?
You must be 75 or over and you, or a partner who lives with you, must receive Pension Credit. Since August 2020 the free licence is no longer automatic at 75, so you have to apply and provide proof of Pension Credit. If nobody in the household receives Pension Credit, an over-75 pays the full £180. See our over-75 guide for the application detail.
How much is the blind concession and who can claim it?
The blind concession is a 50% discount. A registered-blind (severely sight impaired) household pays £90 instead of £180 for colour, or £30.25 instead of £60.50 for black and white. The licence has to be in the name of the blind person, but it then covers everyone living at that address. You apply to the TV Licensing Blind Concession Group with proof, either a copy of your blind-registration document or a certificate from an ophthalmologist. Being partially sighted does not qualify.
How does the £7.50 care-home (ARC) licence work?
The Accommodation for Residential Care concession lets eligible residents of qualifying care homes pay £7.50 a year. It usually covers residents aged 60 or over, or who are disabled or retired, living in a residential care home, nursing home, sheltered housing scheme or almshouse. The care home applies to TV Licensing on residents' behalf and manages the licence, so you do not apply yourself. See the ARC scheme guide for what counts as qualifying accommodation.
Is there a concession for people on Universal Credit or a low income?
No. There is no general low-income, disability-benefit or pension concession. Universal Credit, Housing Benefit, PIP, Attendance Allowance and the basic state pension do not reduce the fee. The only ways to pay less than £180 are the three concessions on this page, plus the £60.50 black and white licence for the tiny number of households with monochrome-only equipment. If cost is the problem, the Simple Payment Plan can spread the fee into smaller instalments instead.
Do I have to renew or reapply for a concessionary licence?
Yes, concessions are not permanent. Over-75 free licences and the blind concession are reviewed periodically and you may be asked to confirm you still qualify (for example, that you still receive Pension Credit). The ARC licence is managed by the care home and renewed while you remain a qualifying resident. If your circumstances change, tell TV Licensing, because watching live TV or BBC iPlayer without the correct licence is a criminal offence.

Related Guides

Over 75 Free Licence

Pension Credit rules and how to apply

Blind Discount £90

The 50% concession explained

ARC Care-Home £7.50

Who qualifies and how homes apply

Free TV Licence

Who really pays £0, and the myths

Black and White £60.50

The lower tier and who still buys it

Simple Payment Plan

Spread the fee if money is tight

Updated 2026-04-27