Almost 900,000 pensioners could cut their TV licence bill from £169 to zero but they don't know about it - check your eligibility
Pension Credit acts as valuable gateway to further benefits
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Almost 900,000 pensioners could be missing out on a free TV licence because they don't know about it.
Some 1.4 million Britons receive Pension Credit but there’s are hundreds and thousands missing out on the benefit and all the perks to it.
Pension Credit, which is administered by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), acts as valuable gateway to further benefits such as a free TV licence for the over-75s.
To legally watch or record live TV in the UK, Britons must have a TV licence, which currently costs £169 a year.
Experts are reminding pensioners to check if are eligible for Pension Credit - which in turn could mean they can get their TV licence for free - as well as an extra £3,900 a year.
The Government has announced an awareness drive aimed at boosting take up of Pension Credit as previous attempts to boost take up haven’t been successful.
Those eligible for Pension Credit could get their TV licence for free - as well as an extra £3,900 a year
GETTYHelen Morrisey, retirement expert at Hargreaves Lansdown. said: "Pension Credit tops up your weekly income to £218.15 if you’re single or your joint weekly income to £332.95 if you have a partner.
"If your income is higher, you might still be eligible for pension credit if you have a disability, you care for someone, you have savings or you have housing costs.
"It also acts as a valuable gateway to further benefits such as a free TV licence for the over-75s as well as help with council tax and NHS costs such as glasses."
How to cut your TV Licence bill to zero
If an individual or someone they live with are over 74 and receive Pension Credit they can apply for a free TV Licence.
Pension Credit can be in the name of the licence holder, or in their partner's name if they are a couple. If an individual or their partner do not receive Pension Credit they'll need to continue to pay for their licence.
It is recommended for people to apply for a free TV Licence when they’re 74. It makes things simpler when they turn 75.
If an application is accepted, individuals will still need to pay for your TV Licence until their 75th birthday.
Britons can apply for the discount on the TV licensing website or by calling 0300 790 6117.
Morrisey explained Pension Credit remains a much underclaimed benefit with only around two-thirds of those who are eligible for it actually claiming it.
However, the recent announcement that Winter Fuel Payments will be restricted to those on means tested benefits should prompt more people to take a closer look.
Only pensioners receiving other benefits such as Universal Credit or Pension Credit will qualify for the £300 Winter Fuel Payment.
Dame Clare Moriarty, Citizens Advice chief executive said more people could claim Pension Credit to ensure they kept their Winter Fuel Payments.
She told BBC Radio 4’s today that 1.4 million receive pension credit but “there’s nearly another 900,000 people who could, so it’s really important to see better support so that people do access that benefit”.
Moriarty continued: “We will be asking for action from both suppliers and from the Government” at the meeting on Wednesday.
“Suppliers really need to step up to the responsibilities that they have to their customers to make sure that if people are struggling they can have repayment plans, supporting people with energy efficiency so they spend less in the first place, making sure that people can get access to debt advice.
“But it also needs the Government to recognise the need for targeted support and that’s something that we would very much like to see coming out of the meeting later on today.”