Broadband social tariffs
You might be eligible for cheaper broadband!
If you are a low income household and are in receipt of certain benefits such as:
- Universal Credit
- Job Seekers Allowance
- Housing benefit
- Disability allowance
- Personal Independence Payment
You could be eligible for cheaper broadband or a cheaper phone line.
Lots of broadband providers are offering deals or ‘social tariffs’ to customers, meaning you could get the same service as other new or existing customers for a lower cost.
It can be difficult to make sense of the best deals that might be available to you. We have put together a guide to explain your options for getting more affordable broadband.
If you're concerned about your finances, please speak to our Income Team on 0344 736 0066 – they can check you’re claiming everything you’re entitled to.
For a full list of broadband and phone social tariffs, head to www.ofcom.org.uk/social-tariffs.
Affordable broadband guide
A number of providers offer deals to customers in receipt of certain benefits:
TalkTalk
Offers six months of free broadband for jobseekers through a voucher scheme
Apply Via Jobcentre
BT Home Essentials
The Unlimited Fibre Essential Plan will get you online from £15 per month if you are in receipt of:
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
- Pensions Credit
- Employment and Support Allowance or
- Universal Credit.
Hyperoptic Fair Fibre
You can get home broadband from £15 per month if you are in receipt of:
- Income Support
- Pension Credit
- Income-related Job Seekers Allowance (JSA)
- Housing Benefit
- Personal Independence Payment
- Attendance Allowance
- Universal Credit
- Care Leavers support or
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (EAS).
There is limited availability for this providor: you can use their postcode checker to see if Hyperoptic is available in your area - Click here to use the postcode checker
NOW Broadband Basics
NOW Broadband Basics offers broadband for £20 per month to those in receipt of:
- Universal Credit
- Pension Credit
- Income-based Employment Support Allowance
- Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance or
- Income Support
What happens to the broadband if I stop receiving benefits?
Providers will verify that you receive a qualifying benefit when you sign up. They'll also perform regular checks (typically at the end of each contract term) to see if you still qualify.
You may need a landline to access these services
Always compare deals to see what else is out there; switching providers is easy and lets you take advantage of the best offers aimed at new customers.
I don’t have broadband at home, can I get internet access for free?
BT offers a Home Essentials call-only plan, with unlimited minutes a month talk time to all UK landlines and mobiles. This costs £10 a month. You can find out more in the downloadable PDF from BT
If you don't have broadband at home, there are ways that you can get online:
- Public Wi-Fi hotspots – Café’s, pubs, shops, restaurants, supermarkets, and many other locations. You might need get yourself a cup of tea to use them, but lots are free to access
- Library computers - Public libraries have computers and Wi-Fi that anyone can use