Update on free and concessionary television licences

On 1 August 2020 the BBC will be introducing changes to its TV licensing fees for the over-75s, which may have an impact on your residents. We have received a number of enquiries from our members on this issue and have developed a set of frequently asked questions to help you.

What are the changes coming into force on 1 August 2020?

From 1 August 2020 those aged 75 or over will no longer be eligible for a free TV licence unless they are on pension credit. This change was due to come into force on 1 June 2020 but, due to the Covid-19, was delayed by two months.

TV Licensing will be writing to anyone over the age of 75 from August to advise them of what they need to do to continue watching live TV or using services such as BBC iPlayer. 

What if the resident’s free TV licence has already expired or is due to expire on 31st July?

TV Licensing has issued the following guidance note:

www.tvlicensing.co.uk/generalnotice

They have indicated that there is no need to worry about the expired license at this stage and your residents will remain covered by their TV license until they are contacted with guidance on what to do next.

Do the changes apply to ARC licences?

No. If your charity has an ARC licence and your residents are aged 75 or over, their TV licence will remain free of charge, regardless of whether they’re on pension credit or not.

NOTE: For anyone who is aged between 60 and 75 and is retired, the cost of an ARC licence remains at £7.50 per year.

This has been confirmed in the TV Licensing Full General Notice available here

What is an ARC license and how can we apply?

The ARC licence is a type of concessionary TV licence available to people living in care homes and some other forms of sheltered housing. Both the resident and accommodation needs to be eligible for this type of licence.

Almshouses are eligible for an ARC licence if the building itself, land it was built on or charity was established before 1 November 1949. Sheltered or supported accommodation may also be eligible if it:

  • Is housed in a building that has been erected or converted for the purposes of occupation by residents that are retired and over 60, or disabled
  • Forms part of a group of at least four dwellings within a common and exclusive boundary (up to 25% of units in a scheme can be properties purchased under the ‘Right to Buy’ legislation)
  • Provides or is managed by a not for profit organisation; including local authority or a housing associations
  • Has a person whose function is to care for the needs of the residents (e.g. a warden) and who either lives on site or works there for at least 30 hours a week, excluding on-call hours.

Your residents will also need to qualify for the licence. They must be aged 60 or over and retired or not working more than 15 hours a week, or disabled (e.g. have substantially impaired sight, hearing or speech, a mental disorder or be substantially physically disabled by illness, any impairment present from birth or otherwise).

To apply for an ARC licence, please visit:

www.tvlicensing.co.uk/check-if-you-need-one/business-and-organisations/residential-care-homes-aud14.

How do I add a resident to our ARC licence?

You will need to write to TV licensing to let them know when you want to add someone to your ARC licence. If the resident has already paid for a full TV license, they can apply for a refund once they’ve been added to the ARC license.

If you have any questions or concerns about TV licences, please contact us at admin@almshouses.org or on 01344 452099.

Posted 27 July 2020