Broadband deals that could save pensioners £200 a year

Independent Age, a charity, is urging internet providers to better promote their social broadband tariffs. The move aims to raise awareness among older people who are struggling financially that they could pay as little as £12.50 a month for their broadband services through Virgin Media Essentials.

However, this is not the only option available, with over 30 social broadband tariffs currently on offer in the UK. The easiest way to determine your eligibility for a cheaper broadband package is to contact your provider directly.

If you currently receive benefits such as Universal Credit, Pension Credit, Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Disability Living Allowance (DLA) or Income Support, see the guide at the end of this article to see which providers consider these benefits in their eligibility criteria.

Recent research by the charity for older people shows that almost half of state pensioners (48%) on low incomes found it difficult to keep up with their broadband bill in the last six months. The findings raise concerns that the cost of living crisis has exacerbated the “digital divide” and there are warnings that older people facing financial difficulties could become increasingly isolated, the Daily Record reports.

The charity pointed out that not being able to access the internet could lead to older people on low incomes being unable to get information about financial rights or services, losing savings by not being able to search for the best deals and missing out on crucial social connections. Take-up of social broadband tariffs remains low, with only 5.1% of those eligible taking up the offers, leaving around 4 million households without benefits.

Fran McSweeney, Head of National Services at Independent Age, said: “Social rates can be a lifeline to help older people who are struggling financially to stay connected. The Internet can help later people stay in touch with friends and family and access information. on financial rights, offers and services, but it must be accessible. If you receive a means-tested benefit, it is vital to find out if you are eligible for a social tariff.

“You can also find out if you’re eligible for a list of what providers offer via the Ofcom website. They start from £12 per month and are designed for customers who need extra support. Contact your current supplier for more information. .”

Independent Age actively encourages older people with the essentials to maintain access to broadband to seek unclaimed benefits to boost their finances. Support is available online at independentage.org or through their helpline on 0800 319 6789, where a free and confidential welfare check can determine eligibility for additional support. For those interested, the full range of social tariffs for broadband and mobile services is available on Ofcom’s website.

Overview of social tariffs

A social tariff could save you around £200 a year. The quickest way to determine your eligibility for a social tariff is to contact your provider directly and ask – even if you don’t qualify, they may be able to suggest other ways to reduce your broadband bill.

Understanding whether the benefit you’re claiming qualifies for a social rate can be quite confusing, so we’ve compiled a list of all the available social rates and the benefits that make you eligible for them. A new system introduced in 2022 allows broadband providers to quickly check eligibility by accessing a special Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) IT system, with the claimant’s consent.

The DWP system will be able to confirm entitlement to the following benefits:

• Universal credit
• Retirement credit
• Income support
• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• Income-related Employment Support Allowance

Benefits and social tariff for broadband

The providers listed below are taken from Ofcom’s latest guidance on social tariff broadband packages. You can get direct links to broadband provider websites here. Please note that the broadband providers listed may not be available in your area. We have marked those that cover the whole of the Kingdom as ‘Great Britain’.

Universal credit

• BT – Great Britain
• EE Basic (now offered through BT) – UK
• 4th Utility – Great Britain
• Hyperoptic – Scotland, England and Wales
• KCOM
• NOW Broadband – UK
• Sky Broadband – UK
• Virgin Media – Great Britain
• Vodafone – Great Britain

Retirement credit

Attendance allowance

• Hyperoptic – Scotland, England and Wales
• KCOM

Personal Independence Payment (PIP) / Adult Disability Payment (ADP)

• Hyperoptic – Scotland, England and Wales
• KCOM
• Vodafone – Great Britain

Disability Living Allowance (DLA)

Income support

Job seeker’s allowance

Employment and Support Allowance

Support for care leavers

• Hyperoptic – Scotland, England and Wales
• KCOM
• Housing benefit
• Hyperoptic – Scotland, England and Wales

Low Earnings Allowance

10 offers with social broadband tariffs

Here are 10 to give you an idea of ​​monthly costs, available speeds and eligibility:

BT Home Essentials (no income)

• Monthly cost: £15
• Average broadband speed: around 36 Mbps
• Eligibility: various benefits, see list above

BT Home Essentials (Unlimited 36Mbps)

• Monthly cost: £20
• Average broadband speed: around 36 Mbps
• Eligibility: various benefits, see list above

BT Home Essentials (Unlimited 67Mbps)

• Monthly cost: £23
• Average broadband speed: about 67 Mbps
• Eligibility: various benefits, see list above

EE Basic (now BT Home Essentials)

Lothian Broadband social tariff

• Monthly cost: £19.99
• Average broadband speed: 100 Mbps
• Eligibility: Open to all

Sky Broadband Basics

• Monthly cost: £20
• Average broadband speed: 36 Mbps
• Eligibility: various benefits, see list above

NOW Broadband Basics

• Monthly cost: £20
• Average broadband speed: 36 Mbps
• Eligibility: various benefits, see list above

Virgin Media Essential Broadband

• Monthly cost: £12.50
• Average broadband speed: 15 Mbps
• Eligibility: various benefits, see list above

Virgin Media Essential Broadband Plus

• Monthly cost: £20
• Average broadband speed: 54 Mbps
• Eligibility: various benefits, see list above

Vodafone Fiber 2 Essentials

• Monthly cost: £20
• Average broadband speed: 73 Mbps
• Eligibility: various benefits, see list above