TV Licensing

TV Licensing and RNIB highlight half price Licence

Anybody who is registered as blind (severely sight impaired), or lives with someone who is, should make sure they are claiming a 50 per cent reduction on the cost of their TV Licence, TV Licensing said today.

By joining forces with Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB), and other organisations across the UK providing support to people with sight loss, TV Licensing is working to make sure anyone who is eligible to receive the concession is aware and takes advantage of the reduced fee. There are more than 39,700 blind concessionary licences in force throughout the UK.

Live-in carers or family members could also benefit from the concession, as once in place the licence covers any equipment used to watch or record TV at the address, including TVs, laptops, tablets and games consoles. A blind concession TV Licence costs £72.75 for colour and £24.50 for a black and white TV Licence.

Claire Wotherspoon, spokesperson for TV Licensing said:

We are pleased to be working with RNIB to ensure everyone eligible for the concession is claiming the discount they are entitled to. Anyone who is registered as blind (severely sight-impaired), or lives with someone who is, can apply for a blind concession TV Licence which is half the price of a full fee licence. This will also cover anyone else living in the household. There are still many ways to pay for a concessionary licence- including online with a debit or credit card, monthly or quarterly direct debit, at any PayPoint outlet, and by phone or post.

Jamie Dormandy, Head of Customer Service and Support at RNIB, said:

Some people with severe sight loss, and their families, may not be aware that they are eligible to claim a 50 per cent reduction in the cost of their TV Licence. TV continues to be a popular form of entertainment for many people with sight loss, thanks in part to recent improvements in talking TV programme guides and the increasing range of assistive software for tablets and laptops making it easier than ever to enjoy programmes at the touch of a button. We would encourage people registered with severe sight loss to take advantage of the reduced TV Licence if they haven’t already done so.

If you live with someone who is registered as blind (severely sight-impaired), and already have a full fee TV Licence in your name, you can transfer the licence to the name of the person who is severely sight-impaired. It’s easy to apply, either by filling in an online form at tvlicensing.co.uk/blind or by contacting TV Licensing on 0300 790 6112.

Those who use a digital box to produce sounds do not require a TV Licence, provided it cannot display TV programmes. Anyone who does not watch or record live TV on any device can let TV Licensing know by completing an online declaration at tvlicensing.co.uk/notv.

Anyone with sight problems can get TV Licensing information by email or in Braille, large print or audio by calling 0300 555 0300. An audio podcast about the concession is available online at audioboom.com/tvlicensing.