A staggering 4.3 million houses in the UK are eligible for Broadband ‘Social Tariffs’. These tariffs are available to households in receipt of certain government benefits, however only 5.1% of those eligible have taken up the offer. We are encouraging businesses, community groups, charities, education providers and the housing sector to get behind our campaign to help ease the pressure during the cost of living crisis. Nearly half of the residents in our region have limited internet access and we want to change that shocking statistic and continue to do more to build a better connected, more prosperous, fairer, greener and healthier West Midlands.
What is a social tariff?
A social tariff is a lower cost broadband and mobile tariff, available to those eligible – usually residents who are in receipt of universal credit, pension credit and some other benefits.
The scheme is offered by most major mobile and broadband providers and the packages are the same as normal broadband or mobile connectivity, just at a lower price.
Lower set-up costs, and it costs nothing to switch. If your provider offers a social tariff, you can switch to it at any time, free of charge.
Your price won’t go up mid contract – you won’t pay any more than the price you agree at the start of the contract
It costs nothing to leave – you won’t pay a fee to leave the tariff before the end of your contract.
Are you eligible?
If you or someone in your household claims Universal Credit, you are eligible for a social tariff with a number of major providers
You can also benefit from social tariffs if you are on Pension Credit, Employment and Support Allowance, Jobseeker’s Allowance and Income Support. Some providers might include additional benefits, like Personal Independence Payment and Attendance Allowance.
The person receiving the benefit needs to be the main person on the contract.
Eligibility varies by supplier, so we recommend you get in touch with your current provider, or check out OFCOM’s resources to see whether you are eligible
Other broadband tariffs
If you do not receive benefits but are a low-income household, some broadband providers also offer low-cost products that are not social tariffs, as they do not require the customer to be in receipt of certain state benefits. You can check for the cheapest broadband deals on comparison websites, such as Uswitch, but these packages may not have the same advantages as social tariffs (e.g. no cancellation fees). You can change the ‘Sort by’ option on the comparison website to ‘Cost (low to high)’ to view the cheapest tariffs.
What broadband speed do I need?
It’s always worth checking if you’re getting the speeds promised by your current broadband provider. A broadband speed test can tell you if you’re getting the speeds quoted by your provider. The site below lets you check the current speed of your connection:
What Broadband Speed Do I Need? – Which?
How do I apply?
For more information and to find and apply for a social tariff, visit the OFCOM or Money Saving Expert websites:
Social tariffs: Cheaper broadband and phone packages – Ofcom
Discounted ‘social tariffs’ for those on certain benefits (moneysavingexpert.com)
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