Loss of TV Licence reduction

doesmyheadin

I am a Tenants in Housing Association Flat. Associations are now allowed to offer to 55year olds and above. Used to be 60. Because of this rule, new Tenants over 60 can no longer have a reduced TV licence fee if not working. When they reach 75 they only get a free TV licence if they are on benefits. To my knowledge this is not retrospective. Another benefit loss taking away. Any further info on this would be helpful.

elsien

The reduction is for eligible sheltered housing where people are over 60 or disabled.
I’m not aware of any reduction for people purely on the basis of income outside of that. 
Do you live in sheltered housing?The reduction in the age limit to people living there would have moved it from the eligibility criteria in my area at least, because looking on my council website the accommodation has to be exclusively for people who are disabled or over 60 in order to be eligible for the discount.

there is some guidance around preserved right, which is something that you might want to look into. 

https://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/cs/ContentServer?c=Page&childpagename=TVL/Page/TVL1ColumnFAQ&pagename=TVLWrapper&rendermode=preview&cid=1369783680396#:~:text=If%20you%20live%20in%20sheltered,are%20under%2075%3B%20and

The free license only for people over 75 and pension credit is nothing to do with the housing association; that’s a government decision. 

Rodders53

Don't believe housing association flats per se were ever allowed to have that sort of reduction.

Care homes and sheltered housing accomodations do: see TV Licensing on that
https://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/check-if-you-need-one/for-your-home/care-home-residents-aud4

If the HA have decided that they no longer provide such accommodation / were never really allowed to claim such licence reductions, it's on them not anyone else.

But do check out the "preserved rights" link on the TV Licensing website in case it may apply to your circumstances.  Either way you need to speak to the administrators of the HA.

NoMore

Benefits & tax credits — MoneySavingExpert Forum

Probably better off in here

Marcon

doesmyheadin said:

I am a Tenants in Housing Association Flat. Associations are now allowed to offer to 55year olds and above. Used to be 60. Because of this rule, new Tenants over 60 can no longer have a reduced TV licence fee if not working. When they reach 75 they only get a free TV licence if they are on benefits. To my knowledge this is not retrospective. Another benefit loss taking away. Any further info on this would be helpful.

https://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/reducedfee or check direct with your particular Housing Association.

peteuk

I do understand that if i own a 5 bedroom house and put a tv in each room then,  I pay one licence fee.

If i own a block of five one bedroom flats, then each tenant has a tv, then each tenant is expected to pay a licence fee. 

But what you’re saying makes no sense.  Nor does it fit into the reduction rules…

4justice2

TV Licensing rules for £7.50 licence are very tight. Residents must be 60 or over, if 55 year olds are allowed it causes a problem....

Murphybear

4justice2 said:

TV Licensing rules for £7.50 licence are very tight. Residents must be 60 or over, if 55 year olds are allowed it causes a problem....

We live in a Housing Assocation property that is sheltered housing.  It is open to anyone 55+ or anyone who is disabled, there are 33 separate flats.  When we moved there 6 years ago we were told we only had to pay £7.50 for the tv licence.  Whether everyone had a £7.50 licence or only those 60+ I don’t know.  We had 1 55 year old  resident at the time but it didn’t appear to cause a problem.   When my flat mate turned 75 the Court Manager told him was automatically entitled to a free licence as he had turned 75.  Neither of us claimed Pension Credit.  

To tell you the truth I found the whole thing a bit confusing.  I was quite pleased when we got confirmation from the tv licensing bods that we had a licence