TV licence: Britons eligible for 50% discount on their BBC bill – how to apply | Personal Finance | Finance

A television licence is required to watch or record programming as it is being broadcast live across the country. Furthermore, a licence is needed to stream any live content from streaming services, such as BBC iPlayer. As the UK’s public broadcaster, the BBC is responsible for managing the TV licence fee and making sure it is paid.

However, the UK Government has the responsibility of setting any potential discounts for people who may need assistance through a concession.

People who are registered as legally blind, or live with someone who is blind, will be able to apply for the 50 percent discount on their licence fee bill.

The price of a television licence in the UK is £159 for a colour licence and £53.50 for a black and white licence if someone were to pay full cost.

Comparatively, a television licence for a blind person would cost £79.50 for colour and £26.75 for a black and white TV licence.

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In the UK, there are over two million people living and dealing with some form of sight loss, according to NHS statistics.

Of this group, some 360,000 are registered as legally blind or partially sighted by the public health provider.

In order to apply for this concession, potential claimants will need to prove to the TV Licensing body that they are legally blind.

Among the considered qualifying documentation to prove this is either a Certificate of Visual Impairment (CVI) or a BD8 Certificate.

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Karl Tippins, a financial expert at Pension Times, emphasises which groups will benefit the most from the TV licence freeze.

Mr Tippins explained: “With the recent news that TV licences will be frozen for two years (being kept at the current cost of £159) and will then increase in line with inflation for a further two years, is great news especially for the most vulnerable people in our society.

“Pensioners across the country will be thrilled with the news especially as their pensions will only rise by 3.1 percent in April.

“Many elderly people will be cutting costs in order to pay the basic bills potentially

“Keeping the licence fee frozen for two years will hopefully mean our most vulnerable pensioners will be able to keep watching TV which many have been relying on since the pandemic as their only form of socialisation.”