Social Tariffs: Cheaper Broadband and Phone Deals on Benefits

If you get Universal Credit or certain other benefits, you may be paying more for broadband and your phone than you need to. Many providers offer social tariffs: cheaper broadband and phone packages for people on benefits. You usually need to ask for one, so it is worth checking even if you have been with your provider for years.

This guide explains what social tariffs are, who can get one, and how to check.

What a social tariff is

The London Borough of Hillingdon describes social tariffs as “cheaper broadband and phone packages for residents who are eligible for certain benefits.” A 2022 GOV.UK news story, published under the previous government, described them as “discounted broadband and mobile deals for people on Universal Credit and other benefits.”

They are ordinary broadband or mobile packages, offered at a lower price to people who qualify.

Who can get one

Each provider sets its own rules. Hillingdon Council says qualifying benefits “will vary between suppliers” and lists benefits that could qualify you, including:

• Universal Credit
• Pension Credit (Guarantee Credit)
• Employment and Support Allowance
• Jobseeker’s Allowance
• Income Support
• Housing Benefit
• Personal Independence Payment
• Attendance Allowance

Because the list differs from one provider to the next, the only way to be sure is to ask your provider, or check its website, with your benefit in mind.

What they cost

Prices vary by provider and change over time, so check the current price with your provider before deciding, and compare the speed you would get with what you use now.

How to get one

1. Check which benefits you get. Have your award letter or online account to hand.
2. Ask your current provider whether it offers a social tariff and whether your benefit qualifies.
3. Check Ofcom’s website. GOV.UK and councils point to Ofcom as the place that lists which providers offer social tariffs and who can get them.
4. Compare before you switch. A social tariff from another provider may suit you better than your current provider’s offer.
5. Check your current contract before you leave a provider. Our guide to broadband and phone price rises explains when you can leave without a fee.

Questions to ask your provider

When you call or message your provider, these questions get you a clear answer quickly:

1. Do you offer a social tariff, and which benefits qualify?
2. What speed does it include, and is that enough for how we use the internet at home?
3. Is there a minimum contract length, and what happens at the end of it?
4. Can I move to it from my current deal, and is there a fee to do so?
5. What proof of my benefit do you need?

Write down the answers, with the date and the name of the person you spoke to, so you can compare offers fairly.

Other ways to cut your phone and broadband bill

If you do not qualify for a social tariff, you still have options:

• When your minimum term ends, compare deals. Citizens Advice says you can cancel without a fee once a fixed-length contract has expired.
• When a price rise notice arrives, check whether your contract lets you leave within the 30-day notice period.
• Ask your provider for a cheaper option if you are struggling. It costs nothing to ask.

Our annual bill review runs through these checks for all your bills at once.

Help with other bills

Social tariffs are one of several discounts linked to benefits. Others worth checking:

• Water: water companies offer their own social tariffs and the WaterSure scheme. See our water bills guide.
• Energy: the Warm Home Discount takes £150 off the electricity bills of some people on means-tested benefits. See our Warm Home Discount guide.
• Council tax: Council Tax Reduction can lower your bill if you are on a low income. See our council tax guide.

Keep the new price on your bill list

When you move to a cheaper deal, update your bill list with the new amount and date the same day, so your monthly total stays right. A bill tracker like Billo reminds you 3 days before each bill is due and shows what is left after bills once you add your pay, which makes the saving easy to see.

Summary

• Social tariffs are cheaper broadband and phone packages for people on certain benefits.
• Qualifying benefits vary by provider; Universal Credit is the one most often included.
• Ofcom lists the providers and deals.
• You usually have to ask, so check with your provider and compare before switching.