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
Free mobile SIM cards
Good Things Foundation runs the National Databank in partnership with Digital Inclusion Hubs, which are organisations that support their communities to access the internet. Through the National Databank and participating Digital Inclusion Hubs, people can receive free SIM cards loaded with mobile data across the UK.
Who is eligible for a free SIM card?
To be eligible for a free SIM card, you must be:
- 18+ years old AND from a low income household
- AND/OR have no access or insufficient access to the internet at home
- AND/OR have no or insufficient access to the internet when away from the home
- AND/OR cannot afford an existing monthly contract or top up
Depending on availability and your needs, you may receive a SIM card from O2, Vodafone or Three. Each provider will offer different packages.
How to get a free SIM card?