Many across the UK could get their TV licence bill slashed by half.
Anyone who watches live television and live streaming services such as BBC iPlayer or Amazon Prime needs the licence.
The fee is managed by the UK’s public broadcaster - the BBC - but it’s the government’s responsibility to set any discounts or concessions.
Anyone registered as legally blind, or lives with someone who is, is eligible to apply for the 50 per cent saving on their TV licence.
In the UK, it currently costs £159 for colour and £53.50 for black and white.
Using the concession, this takes the bill for a blind person down to £79.50 and £26.75 respectively.
According to NHS statistics, there are more than two million people living with some form of sight loss – with around 360,000 classed as legally blind or partially-sighted.
To receive the half-price discount, potential claimants simply need to prove to the TV Licensing body that they are legally blind.
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Qualifying documentation includes either a Certificate of Visual Impairment (CVI) or a BD8 Certificate.
A letter from an eye surgeon verifying someone’s blindness and a certificate from someone’s Local Authority would also count as proof.
The TV Licensing website outlines how the 50 per cent discount is applied for recipients who live with someone who is blind and highlights what partially-sighted people are entitled to.
It states: “If you or someone you live with is blind (severely sight-impaired), regardless of their age, you can apply for a blind concession. If you already have a TV Licence, but it isn't in the name of the person who is blind, you’ll need to transfer the licence into their name. You can do this by making a first time blind application.
“You’ll just need to enter the existing TV licence number for your address when you apply. If the blind (severely sight-impaired) person is under 18, a different process will apply.
“People who are partially-sighted (sight-impaired) do not qualify for a 50 per cent blind concession.”
To apply for the discount, licence holders will need to download and print out the necessary form.
Once this is done, they must complete it and post documents that prove they are severely blind.
The forms then need sending to:
TV Licensing,
Blind Concession Group,
Darlington,
DL98 1TL
