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Millions of households on benefits could save £100s on broadband bills – here's how to check if you can get a cheaper tariff
Millions of households on low incomes are missing out on average savings of almost £150 a year on their broadband bills, according to Ofcom. The industry regulator has called on providers to better advertise discounted deals for those on benefits – see a full list of available tariffs below.
Some 4.2 million low-income households are eligible for special discounted broadband packages, according to the latest figures released by Ofcom. But the regulator says only 136,000 households have taken them up, with millions (97% of those eligible) missing out on average savings of £144 a year.
For more info on how to cut broadband costs, including what to do if you're struggling financially, see our Cheap broadband guide. Of course, just because you qualify for a social tariff doesn't mean you can't get a cheaper deal elsewhere – so always use our Broadband Unbundled tool first to compare offers (we're working on providing better links to information on social tariffs from within the tool).
Supplier-by-supplier list of discounted tariffs for those on certain benefits
Below is a round-up of all the social tariffs on offer and full eligibility criteria – plus info on a different scheme from TalkTalk specifically for jobseekers.
Broadband providers offering social tariffs
Provider and tariff |
Monthly price |
Speed |
Eligibility (in receipt of the following benefits) | How to get it |
| Air Broadband Air Support | £20 | 100Mb | - No set list; contact Air Broadband directly to check if you're eligible | Call 01223 606 828 or email support@airbroadband.co.uk. You'll need to provide a proof of benefits letter (or equivalent) |
| £15 + one-off £9.99 fee | 36Mb | - Employment and support allowance (income-based) - Guarantee credit element of pension credit - Income support - Jobseeker's allowance (income-based) - Universal credit |
Apply online at BT or in store. You'll need to provide your National Insurance number | |
| £20 + one-off £9.99 fee | 67Mb | |||
| Country Connect Social Tariff | £15 | 50Mb | - Employment and support allowance (income-based) - Guarantee credit element of pension credit - Income support - Jobseeker's allowance (income-based) - Universal credit |
Call 0163 353 0519. You'll need to provide your National Insurance number |
| G Network Essential Fibre (London only) | £15 | 50Mb | - Employment and support allowance (income-based) - Guarantee credit element of pension credit - Income support - Jobseeker's allowance (income-based) - Universal credit |
Call 0808 196 3661 or email essentialfibre@g.network. You'll need to provide evidence of your benefits |
| Hyperoptic Fair Fibre | £15 | 50Mb | - Attendance allowance - Care leavers support - Employment and support allowance (income-based) - Housing benefit - Income support - Jobseeker's allowance (income-based) - Pension credit - Personal independence payment - Universal credit |
Call 0203 318 3209 or email support@hyperoptic.com. You'll need to provide evidence of your benefits |
| £25 | 150Mb | |||
| KCOM Full Fibre Flex (East Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire only) | £14.99 | 30Mb | - Attendance allowance - Care leavers - Employment and support allowance (income-based) - Housing benefit - Income support - Jobseeker's allowance - Pension credit - Personal independence payment - Universal credit (and out of work) |
Apply online (enter your postcode then click the 'Flex options available' link). You'll need to provide evidence of your benefits |
| Now Broadband Basics (existing Now broadband customers only) | £20 | 36Mb | - Pension credit - Universal credit |
Call 0333 759 5056. You'll need to provide evidence of your benefits |
| Sky Broadband Basics (existing Sky broadband customers only) | £20 for 18 months (ii)
|
36Mb | - Pension credit - Universal credit |
Call 0333 759 3881. You'll need to provide your National Insurance number |
| Virgin Media Essential | £15 | 15Mb | - Universal credit | Existing customers: Fill in online form New customers: Apply online You'll need to provide a screenshot of your online universal credit account |
| TalkTalk | Free for 6mths (iii) | 38Mb | - Jobseekers on universal credit who don't have an internet connection | Job centre staff will determine eligibility |
(i) BT also offers a landline only package for people on benefits for £10/mth. (ii) At the end of the 18 months your contract will revert to a standard rate, but you can call and cancel penalty-free beforehand. (iii) At the end of the 6mths you can either choose to take out a new contract with TalkTalk or end the service penalty-free.
You should be able to switch to a social tariff without penalty
If your current provider's in the list above, you should be able to switch to its social tariff without having to pay any extra fees – whether you're in or out of contract. Contact your provider directly to arrange this.
If you're with EE or Plusnet, you'll be able to switch to one of BT's social tariffs penalty-free from November. We've asked BT to confirm the exact date and will update this when we know more.
If you're with a different provider – including Shell, TalkTalk and Vodafone – and want to switch to one of the social tariffs above, your existing provider should waive any early termination charges, according to Ofcom. When we asked, Shell confirmed it would waive the charges, while Vodafone told us it would consider customers' requests on a case by case basis. TalkTalk refused to say.
Providers must do more to support struggling customers
The regulator has called on providers to do a better job of letting customers know about the lower prices available on their social tariffs and make it easier to sign up, as its recent research showed 70% of eligible customers were not aware that these deals existed.
It's also urging other broadband and mobile providers to introduce social tariffs, and has asked Virgin Media to strengthen its support by offering a faster plan.
It comes as Ofcom's annual affordability study found that nearly a third (29%) of customers – around 8 million households – are having problems paying for their phone, broadband, pay-TV and streaming bills. The number of struggling families has doubled over the last year (from 15% in April 2021).
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