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The digital switchover help scheme

The government has set up a help scheme to make sure that everybody will be ready for the switch to digital TV. The help scheme will give assistance to convert one TV set, including:

• equipment
• installation
• follow-up support

Eligibility

The scheme is open to people who:

• are aged 75 years and over
• are registered blind or partially sighted
• receive Disability Living Allowance or Attendance Allowance
• have been resident in a care home for more than six months

If you are eligible for help, you will be sent more information well before your region goes digital. You will receive details of how the scheme works and what digital television options there are.

Costs

The provision is free for eligible households on very low incomes. That is those on Income Support, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance or Pension Credit.

Other eligible households will need to pay a subsidised one-off fee of £40.

Administration

The scheme is funded by the BBC through the licence fee. While the BBC is responsible for delivering the scheme, day-to-day operation is contracted out.

What are the benefits of digital television to disabled people?

Digital TV offers specific services for viewers with sight or hearing impairments, such as:

• audio description
• subtitling
• signing services

Only a limited number of programmes offer some of those features on analogue TV.

Hearing impairments

On most digital products, subtitling can be selected simply by pressing a key. Signing services are also becoming available on more programmes. On digital TV, signing can be carried on a separate channel in the same way that subtitles work. It then becomes an option to turn on or off.

Sight impairments

Audio description is an additional soundtrack carried on programmes during gaps in dialogue to describe changes taking place on screen. The description can be carried on the same channel as the original programme, or it can be broadcast on a separate sound channel.

Contact the switchover help scheme

You can contact the switchover help scheme by telephone: 0800 408 5900 or visit the website - see the following link.

• The switchover help scheme Opens new window

Useful links

• Digital UK website Opens new window

• Digital Television website Opens new window

• Ricability - independent reports on digital TV products Opens new window