With January bills pinching pockets, help may be available from companies such as Sky, Vodafone and Virgin Media
As January bills drop through letterboxes and hit already stretched budgets, countless households will be seeking ways to economise and make their money go further this month. Yet approximately 10 million homes are thought to be overlooking support and reduced bills they’re already entitled to claim.
BBC’s Morning Live finance expert Louise Minchin, a former BBC Breakfast presenter, revealed: “Social tariffs are basically discounted rates for things like broadband which can help people on lower incomes and specific benefits… So if you are in an unpredictable financial situation it can be really helpful.”
These tariffs don’t just deliver reduced costs but typically come with minimal or zero set-up charges, fixed monthly payments and no penalties for early cancellation to help slash the additional expenses of contemporary essentials like energy and broadband.
Ofcom data shows that amongst Universal Credit recipients who might qualify for social tariffs, merely 5% are currently taking advantage of them. Minchin highlighted that broadband bills can be particularly expensive for what’s now a modern essential, with roughly 10 million households potentially benefiting from social tariffs.
She said: “You think about accessing the internet; oh maybe it’s just about watching tv. It’s not, it’s got a really big impact.
“If you haven’t got access perhaps you can’t get to your GP, you can’t get to your bank, you can’t access work opportunities. Social tariffs can be a great help.”
The requirements for qualifying for social broadband tariffs vary between suppliers, so it’s worth examining the specific terms on their websites. Minchin noted: “If you get turned down by one provider, you can go to another one.”
Most leading suppliers provide social tariffs for people receiving Universal Credit or Pension Credit. Some may also make them available to those claiming income support, employment support allowance and jobseeker’s allowance alongside certain disability benefits.
For instance, Virgin Media provides a £12.50 30-day rolling deal with typical speeds of 15Mbps for people on Universal Credit, Pension Credit, income support, employment support allowance and jobseeker’s allowance. Sky broadband has a social tariff with identical qualifying benefits but exclusively for current customers. The package costs £20 for a 24 month deal with no early termination charges and 36Mbps.
Vodafone provides a 12 month deal with no early termination charges on 73Mbps for £20 for people on Universal Credit, Pension Credit, income support, employment support allowance, jobseeker’s allowance, reduced earnings allowance, personal independence payments and disability allowance.
Ofcom regulations state that all social tariffs must deliver speeds suitable for emails, video calls and online service access. These packages can be located on Ofcom’s website or by searching your supplier for phrases like ‘social tariff’, ‘essential broadband’ or ‘basic broadband’.
Water firms across England and Wales also provide social tariffs or assistance programmes for those on low incomes or claiming specific benefits, which could “reduce your bill by hundreds of pounds” according to the expert. Households can access these schemes by getting in touch with their water supplier directly.
For energy costs, there’s a whole host of social tariffs, payment schemes, grants, discounts and hardship funds on offer. Charities such as Leap and Turn2Us can guide families through these options.
Minchin wrapped up by saying: “My main message really is; there is help out there so go and check yoru eligibility and also speak to your provider because if they don’t know that you are on one of those benefits or a low income household they may not be offering it to you. Every single pound counts.”
