The majority of people find it relatively simple to switch to digital TV. In fact, most people already have it in their homes. But for some older or disabled people, getting digital TV is a challenge.

The Switchover Help Scheme is run by the BBC, under an agreement with the Government to help older and disabled people make the change to digital TV.

Everyone who is eligible will be offered practical help to convert one of their TV sets to digital in the run-up to switchover in their region.

Who is eligible?

• People who are aged 75 years old or over
• People who are registered blind or partially sighted
• People who get (or could get) Attendance or Constant Attendance Allowance; Mobility Supplement; or Disability Living Allowance
• People who have lived in a care home for six months or more

Up to seven million people in the UK are eligible to receive help from the Switchover Help Scheme.

What help will people receive?

For £40, eligible older and disabled people will be offered:

• Easy-to-use equipment that suits their needs
• Installation of the equipment if they choose
• Fitting a new dish or aerial where possible, if it is needed to make the equipment work
• A demonstration and someone they can call for help while they are getting used to things

• This equipment and help is free if people get pension credit, income support or income-based jobseeker’s allowance.

  Other options are also available at an extra cost and these details are included in the information booklet sent by the Help Scheme to all eligible people.

  Everyone who is eligible will be contacted by post up to three times prior to switchover and offered practical help to convert one TV to digital. People need to respond to get the help.

  The Help Scheme will contact eligible individuals directly using information from the Department of Work and Pensions and local authorities (from the blind and partially sighted registers). The legal powers for this are contained in the Digital Switchover (Disclosure of Information) Act 2007.

  The Help Scheme will approach those local authorities who maintain registers of blind and partially sighted individuals, asking for permission to access the registers around nine months before the start of each regional switchover. Local authorities should make sure that these registers are up to date to avoid blind and partially sighted people who are under 75 and not in receipt of disability benefits losing out.

  Communal housing schemes

  People who live in communal housing can be eligible for the Help Scheme but the provision to upgrade aerials does not cover the conversion of communal TV systems. Local authorities that manage housing stock directly or have delegated responsibility to an Arms Length Management Organisation (ALMO) should ensure that communal systems are capable of working with digital TV services when switchover takes place. More details on housing.

  The Help Scheme will also be advertised specifically as part of Digital UK’s switchover campaigns. The Help Scheme, through its contractor eaga plc, also works with local and voluntary organisations to make sure that eligible people also learn about the Switchover Help Scheme from someone they know and trust. More information about the Help Scheme.

  Read how Somerset County Council and Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council promoted the Help Scheme by visiting our council case studies page.