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Broadband has become an essential utility, much like heating our homes. Our everyday activities rely on a broadband connection, but some families struggle to afford it. Fortunately, in 2022, broadband social tariffs were introduced to help those on low-income benefits gain access to affordable broadband.
Our guide explains everything you need to know about social tariffs, their eligibility criteria and which providers offer them. Even if you don’t qualify for these tariffs, read on to discover how and where to get cheap broadband.
Broadband social tariffs are discounted deals offered to qualifying households who are receiving certain benefits or financial support from the government. Broadband providers who offer this type of deal ensure the cost is kept at a minimum – usually between £12 and £25 per month.
Our home tech experts say, “Social tariffs are a way of offering an essential utility at an affordable price. Broadband speeds are generally the same as other deals. However, social tariff deals are usually a provider’s ‘essential’ deals – it’s unlikely superfast broadband speeds are available on these plans. Social tariffs also tend to come with shorter contracts and without cancellation fees or mid-contract price hikes.”
With the continued cost-of-living crisis, many broadband providers are still offering affordable broadband deals. According to Ofcom, more than 4 million UK families who are eligible for such deals are missing out on average annual savings of £144.
The list of providers who offer social tariffs is growing, and many big-name providers, such as BT, Sky, Virgin Media, Vodafone and TalkTalk, all have deals aimed at low-income families.
| Provider and tariff | Price and deal | Average speed | Eligible households should receive one of the following | How to sign up |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4th Utility Social Tariff | £13.99 | 30Mbps | Income Support, Pension Credit, Universal Credit, Jobseeker’s Allowance or Employment and Support Allowance | Sign up via the 4th Utility website |
| BT Home Essentials | £15-23 | 36Mbps or 67Mbps | No income, Universal Credit, Income Support, Jobseeker’s Allowance, Employment and Support Allowance or Pensions Credit | Apply via the BT website or in-store. Alternatively you can call BT |
| Connect Fibre Basic Essentials | £25 | 150Mbps | Income Support, Pension Credit, Jobseeker’s Allowance, Housing Benefit, Personal Independence Payment, Disability Benefit, Attendance Allowance, Universal Credit, Care Leavers Support, Income-related Employment or Support Allowance | Call 0808 304 9000 |
| EE Basics | £12 | 25Mbps | Universal Credit, Pension Credit, Employment and Support Allowance, Jobseeker’s Allowance or Income Support | Call 0800 956 600 |
| Grayshott Gigabit Connect | £19 | 100Mbps | Income Support, Pension Credit, Universal Credit with no income, Personal Independence Payment, Attendance Allowance, Jobseeker’s Allowance, Care Home residents and Lifeline, Care Leavers Support or Employment and Support Allowance | Register via Grayshott’s website |
| Hyperoptic Fair Fibre | £15-20 | 50-150Mbps | Attendance Allowance, Care Leavers Support, Housing Benefits, Personal Independence Payment, Income-based Employment and Support Allowance, Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, Income Support, Pension Credit or Universal Credit | Call 0203 318 3209 or email support@hyperoptic.com |
| NOW Broadband Basics | £20 | 36Mbps | Pension Credit, Universal Credit, Income-based Employment, Support Allowance, Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance or Income Support | Call 0333 759 5056 |
| Shell Essentials | £15-20 | 11Mbps or 38 Mbps | Employment and Support Allowance, Jobseeker’s Allowance, Income Support, Pension Credit or Universal Credit | New customers call, 0330 175 9942. Existing customers call 0330 094 9181 |
| Sky Broadband Basics | £20 | 11-36Mbs | Universal Credit, Pension Credit, Income-based Employment Support Allowance, Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance or Income Support. For existing customers only | Call 0333 759 3881 |
| SMARTY Social Tariff | £12 | Unlimited | Income-based Employment Support, Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, Income Support, Pension Credit or Universal Credit | Via the SMARTY website |
| Virgin Media Essential Broadband | £12.50-20 | 15-54Mbps | Universal Credit, Pension Credit, Income Support, Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance or Income-based Employment Support Allowance | Apply via Virgin Media’s website |
| Vodafone Essentials | £12 for Fibre 1 Essentials or £20 or Fibre 2 Essentials | 38Mbps or 73Mbps | Universal Credit, Pension Credit, Income Support, Jobseeker’s Allowance, Employment Support Allowance, Personal Independence Payments, Reduced Earnings Allowance or Disability Allowance | Register via Vodafone’s website. Use the postcode checker to verify eligibility. If eligible, Vodafone will call you |
| VOXI for NOW | £10 | Unlimited | Jobseeker’s Allowance, Universal Credit, Employment and Support Allowance, Disability Allowance or Personal Independence Payment | Via VOXI website |
| YouFibre Social Tariff | £15 | 50Mbps | Income Support, Pension Credit, Income-related Jobseeker’s Allowance, Housing Benefit, Personal Independence Payment, Attendance Allowance or Universal Credit | Call 0800 270 0100 |
Social tariffs are usually available for households who receive Universal Credit, Pension Credit and other benefits, such as Employment and Support Allowance, Jobseeker’s Allowance and Income Support.
However, each provider usually has its own benefits criteria that may include ones not listed above. You can check your eligibility by contacting a provider directly or find the information in our broadband social tariffs table above.
With any social tariff, the provider will likely need to verify whether you qualify for the deal. This process was made easier thanks to a rule change in 2022, which allows providers to check a customer’s eligibility without requiring them to provide proof.
This removes the need for the customer to apply directly. If your provider discovers that you’re eligible, it will need your permission to switch you to a social tariff.
No broadband providers in the UK currently offer free broadband, but jobseekers who receive Universal Credit might be eligible for six months of free broadband from TalkTalk. The provider launched a national scheme with the Department of Work and Pensions. Those who meet the eligibility criteria may be offered a fibre broadband deal with speeds of up to 38Mbps. The plan lasts for six months, and it comes with no obligation to carry on once the free period ends.
Openreach, owned by BT Group, has launched a free broadband installation programme for families who receive Universal Credit with no other income. Eligible families can save up to £92 on installation charges for Openreach broadband charges.
Which providers use the Openreach network?
BT, Sky and TalkTalk.
How does it work?
Your chosen broadband provider from the above list can choose to pass on savings by either removing the upfront cost or lowering the cost of the monthly bill for the duration of your broadband contract.
How much can you save?
Up to £92 on installation charges.
For those who don’t qualify for a social tariff, some providers still offer low-cost deals. For instance, the Community Fibre Essential deal is £12.50 per month regardless of your income status; however, it’s only available to households with London postcodes.
Cheap broadband deals usually offer a more affordable monthly fee but often come with slower speeds. Our home tech experts suggest choosing one of the packages from TalkTalk or NOW Broadband, as they’re affordable and offer decent speeds.
The best thing you can do is to make your provider aware of your current situation. Some providers have schemes to help families who are struggling with the costs of broadband. By speaking to your provider you may be able to lower your monthly fee or move to a cheaper deal. Ofcom says it has asked providers to allow a sufficient amount of time for customers to seek help before commencing debt collection or disconnecting services.
Yes, it is still possible to get a broadband deal with a bad credit history. The checks carried out by your broadband provider are not overly strict, they are unlikely to check your credit score. If you are concerned, you could choose a provider that doesn’t check your credit at all, such as Plusnet and Now Broadband.
Broadband social tariffs are a great way to keep costs to a minimum. However, most social tariffs do offer slower broadband speeds than the more premium packages. This isn’t to say they’re not as good. Slower broadband speeds could hinder you if your internet usage is heavy or you have multiple devices connecting simultaneously.
Social tariff contract lengths vary between providers. Most broadband social tariffs last for six months and usually come without a cancellation fee to allow switching or cancellation at any time. Some social tariffs are 12-month contracts, but will usually still come without cancellation fees.
