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Am I eligible for a cheaper broadband social tariff?

If you or someone in your household claims Universal Credit, you can move to any of the 32 home broadband social tariffs Ofcom lists — from £12.00 a month, with no mid-contract price rises and no fee to leave. Pension Credit, ESA, Jobseeker’s Allowance and Income Support are accepted by all major providers. Answer three questions below to see which ones apply to you.

Last updated: · Written by The NetSorted team

What do you need?
Which benefit do you (or someone in your home) claim?

Ofcom’s rules differ by benefit, so this changes the answer. The person claiming has to be the one named on the contract.

Pick the benefit you claim and we’ll show which of Ofcom’s 32 published social tariffs you can get.

What Ofcom says you get

  • • Switching to your own provider’s: If your own provider offers a social tariff, Ofcom says you can switch to it at any time, free of charge.
  • • Leaving one: Ofcom says you won’t pay a fee to leave a social tariff before the end of the contract.
  • • Moving to another provider: If your provider doesn’t offer one, you can move to a provider that does — but Ofcom only says your current provider “might” let you leave without an exit fee. Ask before you commit.
  • • Mid-contract rises: The price won’t go up mid-contract — you pay what you agreed at the start.
  • • Set-up costs: Set-up costs should be next to nothing, and your provider should tell you about any before you sign up.
  • • New customers: You don’t have to be an existing customer — if your provider has no social tariff you can switch to one that does.
  • • Whose name it’s in: The person receiving the benefit needs to be the main person on the contract.
  • • Coverage: Providers might not cover every address in the regions listed, so check the provider’s own site for your postcode.

Mobile plans are not home broadband

Ofcom lists both in one table, and 4 of the entries are mobile SIM plans even though the table quotes a speed for them: EE Basics, O2 Essential Plan, SMARTY Social Tariff, VOXI For Now. They are good value as a SIM, but they will not replace a home connection for a household — so the checker above keeps the two apart.

Frequently asked questions

Who qualifies for a broadband social tariff?

Ofcom’s rules are graded, not a simple yes or no. If you or someone in your household claims Universal Credit, you can switch to any of the tariffs Ofcom lists. All major providers also include people on Pension Credit, Employment and Support Allowance, Jobseeker’s Allowance and Income Support. Some providers additionally accept Personal Independence Payment and Attendance Allowance, but not all do. In every case the person receiving the benefit needs to be the main person on the contract.

How much is a social tariff?

Ofcom currently lists 32 home broadband social tariffs, from £12.00 to £24.00 a month, and 4 mobile SIM plans. Most broadband tariffs are over 30 Mbit/s. Set-up costs should be next to nothing, and the price can’t rise mid-contract.

Will I pay an exit fee to move to a social tariff?

It depends who you move to. Ofcom is clear that if your own provider offers a social tariff you can switch to it at any time, free of charge, and that you won’t pay a fee to leave a social tariff early. Moving to a different provider’s social tariff is less certain: Ofcom says your current provider “might” let you leave without a penalty fee. Ask them before you commit.

Do I have to be an existing customer to get a social tariff?

No. If your current provider doesn’t offer one, you can switch to a provider that does. Availability is the real constraint — many social tariffs come from regional networks that only serve certain areas, so check your postcode on the provider’s own site.

Is a mobile social tariff the same as home broadband?

No, and it matters. Four of the plans in Ofcom’s table — EE Basics, O2 Essential Plan, SMARTY and VOXI For Now — are mobile SIM plans, not home broadband, even though the table quotes a speed for them. They will not replace a home connection for a household. This checker keeps the two apart so you don’t swap your broadband for a SIM by mistake.

Why isn’t my provider in the list?

Because this list is exactly Ofcom’s, and not every provider offers a social tariff. Providers join and leave the table, so it’s worth re-checking. If yours has nothing, you can move to one that does — see the exit-fee answer above first.

Sources

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