Discounted broadband and mobile phone deals are available to thousands of households
Broadband is essential in today’s world but it can be pricey. However there is help available for some families but it needs to be applied for.
Families on benefits are being encouraged to check whether they’re eligible for discounted broadband packages costing as little as £12.50 a month. With exams set to take place later this spring, many students are depending heavily on the internet for revision, coursework and online learning resources.
However, research indicates a substantial number of families who could access cheaper broadband through so-called social tariffs may not be aware the support exists. A new survey of parents across the UK found two in five (40%) are unaware households receiving benefits such as Universal Credit, Income Support or Pension Credit may be eligible for discounted broadband and mobile deals.
The findings emerge as families continue to face pressure from rising household costs. Around one in five parents (22%) said they are struggling to cover their usual household expenses, whilst more than three quarters (76%) said they are worried about the impact of the rising cost of living on their finances, reports the Daily Record.
Despite those pressures, many parents say internet access has become central to their child’s education. Four in five (80%) said the internet is now more important to their child’s learning than it was just two years ago. Nearly three quarters (73%) said home broadband is now as essential for education as textbooks once were.
The survey also revealed seven in 10 parents with internet access at home said more than half of their child’s homework is now completed online. Pupils are increasingly dependent on school portals, online revision apps, video tutorials and downloadable past exam papers to prepare for tests.
Consequently, many parents fear their children could fall behind without reliable internet access. More than two thirds (68%) believe children without regular internet access would struggle to keep pace with classmates, whilst 73 per cent said their child would find it difficult to revise properly without being able to get online at home.
For some families this is already a reality. One in seven parents said their child has had to go elsewhere to get online to study, whilst others rely solely on mobile data rather than a home broadband connection.
Social tariffs are discounted broadband packages offered by some providers to households receiving certain benefits. These deals are designed to make internet access more affordable for families on lower incomes. Virgin Media O2 said its Essential Broadband plan starts from £12.50 per month for speeds of 15Mbps, whilst a faster package costing £20 a month offers speeds of 54Mbps.
The plans are available on 30-day rolling contracts with no activation or exit fees and no price rises whilst the household continues to receive qualifying benefits. Dana Haidan, Chief Sustainability Officer at Virgin Media O2, said reliable internet access is increasingly vital for students preparing for exams.
She said: “Exam season is one of the most important periods in a young person’s education, and today reliable home internet plays a vital role in how students revise and prepare. But many families are under real financial pressure, and some may not realise discounted support is available. Through social tariffs, we’re helping eligible households access affordable broadband so no student is disadvantaged when it matters most.”
Households receiving Universal Credit, Income Support, Pension Credit and certain other income-related benefits may qualify for social tariff broadband deals, though eligibility criteria differ between providers. Consumer groups have previously cautioned that millions of eligible households nationwide may still be paying standard rates because they are unaware cheaper tariffs exist.
Top social broadband tariff deals
Here are nine to give you an idea of monthly costs, speeds available and eligibility.
Highland Broadband social tariff
- Monthly cost: £23.99
- Average broadband speed: 100mbps
- Eligibility: various means-tested benefits, see above list
BT Home Essentials (No Income)
- Monthly cost: £16
- Average broadband speed: around 36mbps
- Eligibility: various benefits, see above list
BT Home Essentials (Unlimited 36Mbps)
- Monthly cost: £21
- Average broadband speed: around 36Mbps
- Eligibility: various benefits, see above list
BT Home Essentials (Unlimited 67mbps)
- Monthly cost: £24
- Average broadband speed: around 67Mbps
- Eligibility: various benefits, see above list
Sky Broadband Basics
- Monthly cost: £20
- Average broadband speed: 36Mbps
- Eligibility: various benefits, see above list
NOW Broadband Basics
- Monthly cost: £20
- Average broadband speed: 36Mbps
- Eligibility: various benefits, see above list
Virgin Media Essential Broadband
- Monthly cost: £12.50
- Average broadband speed: 15Mbps
- Eligibility: various benefits, see above list
Virgin Media Essential Broadband Plus
- Monthly cost: £20
- Average broadband speed: 54Mbps
- Eligibility: various benefits, see above list
Vodafone Fibre 2 Essentials
- Monthly cost: £20
- Average broadband speed: 73Mbps
- Eligibility: various benefits, see above list
