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Social Tariffs for Broadband

Social Tariffs for Broadband

Regulator, Ofcom, has urged all broadband firms to support low-income homes by offering discounted packages known as "social tariffs".

Ofcom has found that only 55,000 out of 4.2 million homes in receipt of Universal Credit are using discounted rates. This means households on benefits are missing out on an average yearly broadband saving of £144 each.

Social tariffs can provide a safety net for eligible Kent households who might be struggling to afford their broadband or phone services. Below is a list of providers offering social tariffs to Kent households and the eligibility requirements (correct at time of publish):

Provider Package Offering Customer Requirements Speed Price Who is eligible? Links to how to apply
TalkTalk TalkTalk (No Line) - Six Months Free New and existing customers 38Mb Free for 6 months Jobseekers on universal credit who don't have an internet connection. Apply via Job Centre
BT BT Home Essentials Broadband and Line New and existing customers 36Mb £15 per month (£9.99 upfront) To qualify, you need to be receiving one of the following: universal credit, employment and support allowance, pension credit (guarantee credit element), income support or jobseeker's allowance. Apply via BT Website
BT BT Home Essentials Broadband and Line New and existing customers 67Mb £20 per month (£9.99 upfront) To qualify, you need to be receiving one of the following: universal credit, employment and support allowance, pension credit (guarantee credit element), income support or jobseeker's allowance. Apply via BT Website
Virgin Media Virgin Media Essential Broadband (no line) New and existing customers 15Mb £15 per month To qualify, you need to be receiving universal credit and living in an area Virgin covers (52% of the country). Apply via Virgin Media

Voice-only Landline Services

For voice-only landline services, BT also provide social tariffs to eligible households – details of these are included in the BT links above.

In addition to these tariffs, other support might be available to customers who might not be able to get online because they struggle to afford internet services. If you’re struggling to pay your mobile phone or broadband bill, you should speak to your provider as soon as possible to see how they can help.

Alternative Broadband Providers

Ofcom has said it’s wanting more companies to offer help to low-income households and to make it clearer how people can switch to cheaper deals. This came after the evidence suggested that 84% of people receiving benefits were unaware of the social tariff packages.

Ofcom said it was now "calling on all other broadband firms to support struggling households by introducing their own social tariffs". Ofcom also stated, “We also want to see all companies promote these deals more widely, and make sure it's swift and simple for customers to sign up".



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