UK households urged to come forward for £169 saving on BBC TV Licence

UK households have been urged to come forward for a £169 saving on the BBC TV licence. Those who've paid for a BBC TV licence have been urged to act and see if they're eligible to reduce the bill to zero - in a major Cost of Living boost.

People aged over 75 who are claiming Pension Credit are not required to buy a licence. Students who are living away from home may also be covered if their parents have a TV licence, but only if they're watching TV on a device such as a phone, tablet or laptop computer. However, you wouldn't be covered if you're watching on a television that is plugged into the mains.

As mentioned above, you don't need a licence if you're only watching programmes on catch-up using streaming services such as Netflix, Amazon Prime, ITVX, Disney Plus, YouTube, All 4 or My5. People who may be eligible for a reduction, include those with a severe sight impairment, who can claim a 50 per cent discount.

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If you live in residential care or sheltered accommodation, you may be able to apply for a concessionary TV licence which costs £7.50 per room, flat or bungalow. The cash from your payment goes towards public broadcasting by the BBC.

It allows it to run without the interruption of adverts and makes up about 71 per cent of the BBC's income. But if you're sure you no longer need a licence, you can formally let TV Licensing know by filling out TV Licensing's refund and cancellation request form on its website

Once your request is approved, your licence will be cancelled and you'll be refunded automatically. If you're found to be breaking the rules, you can face prosecution plus a fine of up to £1,000 (up to £2,000 if you live in Guernsey) if found to be watching 'live TV' or BBC iPlayer without a licence.