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  2. Benefits and money
  3. Benefits and financial support
  4. In retirement

Free TV licences

Free TV Licences, funded by the Government, for everyone aged 75 or over ended on 31 July 2020. From 1 August 2020, anyone aged 75 or over receiving Pension Credit, is eligible for a free TV Licence, paid for by the BBC.

You can also get TV licence concessions if you're registered blind or (under certain conditions) if you live in nursing or residential care or in sheltered accommodation.

The need for a TV licence

You need to be covered by a TV Licence to watch or record live TV programmes on any channel, or to download or watch any BBC programmes on iPlayer – live, catch up or on demand. This applies to any device and provider you use.

If you are 75 or over

You can get a free TV licence if you’re 75 or older and you either:

  • get Pension Credit
  • live with your partner who gets Pension Credit

The licence covers everyone living at your address.

You can apply when you’re 74 if you already get Pension Credit. You’ll still need to pay for your licence until the end of the month before your 75th birthday. After that you’ll be covered by your free licence.

  • Applying for an over 75 TV Licence at 74
  • Applying for an over 75 TV Licence at 75

For more information contact: Northern Ireland Pension Centre

​Accommodation for Residential Care (ARC) Concessionary TV Licence

Care home residents

You will need a TV licence if you watch or record television programmes as they're being shown on TV or an online TV service, or download or watch any BBC programmes on iplayer - live, catch up or on demand, in your room, flat or bungalow. This is the case whether you use a TV, computer, mobile phone or any other device.

However, you may be able to get a concession on your licence.

Find out about the types of residential licences, if you qualify and who can apply from the TV Licensing website: 

  • Care home residents - TV Licensing

Residential care homes and sheltered accommodation

The management of a residential care home needs to make sure the home is covered by a TV licence.

This will cover anyone who watches or records television programmes as they're being shown on TV or an online TV service, or downloads or watches any BBC programmes on i-player - live, catch up or on demand. This includes residents, staff and guests using devices such as a TV, computer, mobile phone, games console, digital box or DVD/VHS recorder.

However, the accommodation may qualify for a concessionary licence for residents.

The management of the sheltered accommodation is responsible for ensuring that a valid TV Licence covers all communal areas. Residents need a separate licence for their own living area. However, sheltered accommodation may qualify for the Accommodation for Residential Care (ARC) scheme. 

  • Residential care homes and shared accommodation - TV Licensing

Retired or disabled

You qualify for an ARC Concessionary TV Licence if you are retired or disabled and live in eligible accommodation.  Speak to your administrators to find out if your accommodation qualifies for this licence.

If you have any questions about the ARC Concessionary TV Licence, contact TV Licensing:

  • TV Licensing 

Blind (severely sight impaired)

If you are blind (severely sight impaired) and can provide the appropriate evidence, you are eligible to apply for a 50 per cent concession. Your licence will also cover anyone who lives with you.

If you are partially sighted (sight impaired) you are not eligible.

Find out more from the TV Licensing website.

  • Blind (severely sight impaired)

More useful links

  • BBC iPlayer and the TV Licence - TV Licensing
  • Buy or renew your TV licence online
  • Qualifying for a free passport
  • Benefits Calculator
  • Apply for Pension Credit
  • War Widow(er) Pension – gov.uk
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In retirement

  • 60+ SmartPass and Senior (65+) SmartPass
  • Attendance Allowance
  • Carer's Allowance
  • Cold Weather Payment
  • Energy saving grants
  • Free TV licences
  • Help with health costs
  • Lone Pensioner Allowance
  • Over 80 Pension
  • Paying your residential care or nursing home fees
  • Pension Credit
  • Pensions and retirement planning
  • Residential care and nursing homes and benefits
  • Tax and allowances in retirement
  • Understanding Pension Credit
  • Winter Fuel Payment
  • Your home, assets and residential care or nursing home fees

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Comments or queries about angling can be emailed to anglingcorrespondence@daera-ni.gov.uk 

If you have a comment or query about benefits, you will need to contact the government department or agency which handles that benefit.  Contacts for common benefits are listed below.

Carer's Allowance

Call 0800 587 0912
Email 
dcs.incomingpostteamdhc2@nissa.gsi.gov.uk

Discretionary support / Short-term benefit advance

Call 0800 587 2750 
Email 
customerservice.unit@communities-ni.gov.uk

Disability Living Allowance

Call 0800 587 0912 
Email dcs.incomingpostteamdhc2@nissa.gsi.gov.uk

Employment and Support Allowance

Call 0800 587 1377

Jobseeker’s Allowance

Contact your local Jobs & Benefits office

Personal Independence Payment

Call 0800 587 0932

If your query is about another benefit, select ‘Other’ from the drop-down menu above.

Comments or queries about the Blue Badge scheme can be emailed to bluebadges@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk or you can also call 0300 200 7818.

For queries or advice about careers, contact the Careers Service.

For queries or advice about Child Maintenance, contact the Child Maintenance Service.

For queries or advice about claiming compensation due to a road problem, contact DFI Roads claim unit.

If you can’t find the information you’re looking for in the Coronavirus (COVID-19) section, then for queries about:

  • Restrictions or regulations — contact the Department of Health
  • Travel advice (including self-isolation) — contact the Department of Health
  • Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccinations — contact the Department of Health or Public Health Agency

If your query is about another topic, select ‘Other’ from the drop-down menu above.

For queries about your identity check, email nida@nidirect.gov.uk and for queries about your certificate, email covidcertni@hscni.net.

For queries or advice about criminal record checks, email ani@accessni.gov.uk

Application and payment queries can be emailed to ema_ni@slc.co.uk

For queries or advice about employment rights, contact the Labour Relations Agency.

For queries or advice about birth, death, marriage and civil partnership certificates and research, contact the General Register Office Northern Ireland (GRONI) by email gro_nisra@finance-ni.gov.uk

For queries about the High Street Spend Local Scheme,  email HSSS.mail@economy-ni.gov.uk.

For queries about:

  • Car tax, vehicle registration and SORN
    contact the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), Swansea
     
  • Driver licensing and tests, MOT and vehicle testing
    contact the Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA), Northern Ireland

If your query is about another topic, select ‘Other’ from the drop-down menu above.

For queries about your identity check, email nida@nidirect.gov.uk.

 

For queries or advice about passports, contact HM Passport Office.

For queries or advice about Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs), including parking tickets and bus lane PCNs, email dcu@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk

For queries or advice about pensions, contact the Northern Ireland Pension Centre.

If you wish to report a problem with a road or street you can do so online in this section.

If you wish to check on a problem or fault you have already reported, contact DfI Roads.

For queries or advice about historical, social or cultural records relating to Northern Ireland, use the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI) enquiry service.

For queries or advice about rates, email LPSCustomerTeam@lpsni.gov.uk

For queries or advice about  60+ and Senior Citizen SmartPasses (which can be used to get concessionary travel on public transport), contact Smartpass - Translink.

If you have a question about a government service or policy, you should contact the relevant government organisation directly.  We don't have access to information about you.

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