DWP issues update on free TV licences ahead of April price hike

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has urged older people to check whether they are eligible for Pension Credit as some claimants may be entitled to a free TV Licence.

Pension Credit is a benefit paid to low income state pensioners, which tops up your weekly income to £201.05, or £306.85 if you’re in a couple. The payments are set to rise in April this year.

As well as giving you extra cash, Pension Credit is also known as a gateway benefit for other financial help. One of the extra perks for claimants over the age of 75 years is a free TV Licence, the Mirror reports.

Try MEN Premium now for FREE... just click here to give it a go.

Households who watch or record live TV programmes on any channel, need to pay for a TV licence and this includes whether you watch on a TV, PC, laptop, tablet, or phone. You also need a TV Licence if you use BBC iPlayer - even if only watching shows on catch up.

Currently, a TV Licence costs £159 a year but this is due to increase in April to £169.50 in April of this year. The rising cost of living has hit millions of Brits hard including many state pensioners. To combat the rising costs, many are looking at ways they can reduce their outgoings. If you are eligible to claim Pension Credit - then with the TV licence alone, you will see a nearly £170 boost to your finances.

In a recent post on X - formerly Twitter - the DWP said: “With #PensionCredit you could get additional financial help, plus other support including a free TV licence #HelpForHouseholds" Alongside the post, the DWP shared an image which said that 1.4million households are currently getting the benefit.

One 78-year-old grandmother Yvonne Bailey from Witney in Oxfordshire recently shared that her free TV Licence -