Best Broadband Social Tariffs (For Those On Certain Benefits) A Megathread
Best Broadband Social Tariffs (For Those On Certain Benefits) A Megathread
Best Broadband Social Tariffs (For Those On Certain Benefits) A Megathread
Best Broadband Social Tariffs (For Those On Certain Benefits) A Megathread
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Posted 22 hours ago

Best Broadband Social Tariffs (For Those On Certain Benefits) A Megathread

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MrSwitch Deal editor
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About this deal

I posted this over two years ago as a megathread, so thought it would be time to refresh it, since my last posting, there have been a few new additions to the social broadband offer space, Note some of the below may actually be beaten by regular BB offers, so make sure you shop around in case you are missing out on a better deal, not all social tariffs offer the best value for your money, these are for People On Universal Credit And certain legacy benefits
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£13.99 a month for 30Mb

Who Is Eligible?
Our social tariff was designed for low-income families who may be claiming some of the following benefits:

  • Universal
  • credit
  • Income
  • support
  • Jobseekers
  • allowance
  • Employment and support allowance
  • Pension credit

If you live in a building that qualifies for this tariff, you can subscribe to it, we don't ask you to supply supporting documentation.
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BT Home Essentials Unlimited 67 Mb £23 a month
Who can get BT Home Essentials?
New or existing BT customers can apply. You’ll also need to be receiving one of these benefits to qualify:

  • Universal Credit
    (all claimants)
  • Pension Credit
    (Guarantee Credit)

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Community Fibre Essential£12.50 a month 35Mb

Whether you’re searching for job opportunities, acquiring new skills, staying in touch with loved ones or tackling your finances, we have the high-quality, reliable connection to help you through.

Get our 35 Mbps 100% full fibre broadband package for just £12.50/month.
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EE Basics£12 a month Up to 25Mb

What You Get?
£12 per month* SIM only, includes:
  • 5GB data on the UK’s best network
  • Unlimited calls
  • Unlimited texts
  • Great speeds, max. 25 Mbps
30-day rolling contract for 12 months. No early exit fees apply.

Who’s eligible?
You must be receiving one of the following benefits:


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£14.99 a month 50Mb

Who is eligible for this package?
A. Full Fibre Essential is available to those who are in receipt of certain social benefit payments. The eligible benefits include:

  • Income-based Employment Support Allowance (I-ESA)
  • Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (I-JSA)
  • Income Support (IS)
  • Pension Credit (PC)
  • Universal Credit (UC)

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G.Network Essential Fibre Broadband£15 a month 50Mb

In order to qualify for Essential Fibre, customers must be (and remain) eligible for, and in receipt of, at least one of the following benefits:

  • Universal Credit
  • Income Support
  • Pension Credit (guarantee credit)
  • Income-related Job Seekers Allowance (JSA)
  • Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

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Hey!Broadband Everyday Fibre£16 per month 100Mb

If you receive any of the following, you're eligible for Everyday Fibre:
  • Universal Credit
  • Pension credit
  • Income Support
  • Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA)
  • Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
  • Housing Benefit - Personal Independence Payment
  • Attendance Allowance - Care Leavers support
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SMARTY Social Tariff£12 a month, 5G where available

  • Fast eligibility checks with no credit checks
  • Affordable pricing to help you stay connected
  • Once accepted, keep the plan for as long as you're eligible
  • Ultimate flexibility - 1 month rolling plan
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Virgin Media Essential Broadband£12.50 a month 15Mb / or £20pm for 54MB

Essential Broadband gives you download and upload speeds averaging 15Mbps and 2Mbps – plenty for browsing, emailing, making video calls, HD streaming, casual gaming and keeping up to date on social media.

  • Available to those who receive Universal Credit
  • Always at £12.50 a month, if you’re eligible
  • Your price won’t change while you’re receiving Universal Credit payments
  • 30-day rolling contract
  • This is a broadband-only package available to current Virgin Media customers – if you currently have a package which includes TV and a phone line these services will be disconnected

Virgin Media UK Make it Easier to Take Social Broadband Tariff
The new system simplifies the process by removing the need for customers to prove their entitlement to broadband providers (e.g. sending screenshots of their Universal Credit account or providing a letter from the Jobcentre), which can occur as regularly as every month. Some ISPs, such as Sky Broadband, have already implemented this and now Virgin Media have done the same.
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Vodafone Fibre 2 Essentials£20 per month 73Mb

  • Who can get Vodafone Essentials Broadband?New and existing customers, receiving one or more of the below:
  • Jobseeker's Allowance
  • Universal Credit
  • Pension Credit
  • Employment Support Allowance
  • Income Support
  • Reduced Earnings Allowance
  • Personal Independence Payments
  • Disability Allowance

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£10 a month, 5G where available
If you are in an hyperoptic covered area, then i'd suggest this offer
Superfast Broadband - £12pm For 150Mb / £15pm for 500Mb (£180 total) Or £18pm For 1GB (£216) (12 Months or 24 months) Selected Areas
Further links to some on topic categories for your perusal


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Community Updates
Edited by MrSwitch, 22 hours ago
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55 Comments

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  1. stec77's avatar
    Do any of these social tariffs include installation for new properties? Also for streaming 4K content what is the minimum speed requirement? Thanks in advance.
    guitarguy656's avatar
    4k (compressed like netflix) is about 15megabit, you can check on the details view on a netflix video. This is of course if nothing else is using your connection and WiFi degradation is not considered aka wired into the TV etc. Then x2 if say you and a kid was watching it at the same time, over two different devices.

    help.netflix.com/en/…306 Will let you know for other speeds as well

    Now if you are talking uncompressed 4k... 50-100megabit (depending on remux vs a convert MKV container).

    hope that helps? (edited)
  2. KodaBear's avatar
    It's worth noting that the BT Offer is open to existing customers of EE and Plusnet too, and they can move to this if eligible. However if moving to this on any brand other than BT you don't get inclusive calls (700 Minutes on 40Mb package, unlimited minutes on 80Mb package)
  3. Noxy's avatar
    Signed my mum up to the BT one as she gets pension credit. Just think how many customers a company would get if they just did a internet package for everyone at these prices.
  4. sm9690's avatar
    I know you've mentioned the current hyperoptic deal, but their social broadband is only a 30 day contract, useful if you might need to move house or for any other reason - hyperoptic.com/bro…nd/
    vasile12's avatar
    Isn't it the same for Vodafone social broadband? 30 days notice to quit in 12 months contract
  5. UltraMagnus's avatar
    Do any of these do a unlimited anytime calls package?
    KodaBear's avatar
    BT. 700 Minutes with the 40Mb plan and unlimited minutes with the 80Mb plan.
  6. Moss.b's avatar
    Does anyone know the min contract length with Vodafone? Can't see it mentioned anywhere.
    KodaBear's avatar
    12 months but the exit fees are waived so if you need to cancel even just a month in, you simply pay up your 30 days notice and walk away.
  7. Solee's avatar
    Excellent round up for those on hard times, Internet is pretty much a requirement these days to stay competitive and apply for jobs.
    Pigsy.'s avatar
    Yup, essential... Thus would recommend avoiding Vermin Media... Gf had to fork out for data several times because her service was dead... Paid for 350 but never got more than 80 until they finally replaced the hub... Utter joke of a service. Only offered £20 compensation too.
  9. george_mooaaa's avatar
    Virgin Media Essential Broadband£12.50 a month for 15mb is a crime, even scamming people on benefits why not 512kb (edited)
    Moss.b's avatar
    Exactly.
  10. Dan_82's avatar
    Lovely stuff
  11. danflorin3's avatar
    30mb? 36mb? Come one... really? High prices, extremely low speeds
  12. Gollywood's avatar
    Good work Switchy
  13. student.223's avatar
    Thanks
  14. darren_hooker's avatar
    Thanks for sharing switchy.. hope you’re ok.. long time no speak
  15. Fareed_Patel5N5's avatar
    The Virgin media 500mb works out at £28pm for 18 months if you have a blue light discount and use TCB to get £80 back
  16. otonytonton's avatar
    Cheers such a wonderful thread thanks for posting.
  17. 8ruce's avatar
    Having looked into these for a relative, suggested:

    NOW Broadband 63mbs for 12mths £23pm +£10 delivery -£90 TopCashback = £16.33pm
  18. StottyUTA's avatar
    Good this
  19. Pigsy.'s avatar
    I'm with BT, service is mint and they ensured that if there was an outage etc I was covered - sent me an EE data hub for free. Think I'm paying £20 per month, 72 MB BB, unlimited calls and the free unlimited data sim (EE). Mobile wise, for cost - SMARTY... But... It's unreliable, lots of outages recent one was around a week, speeds are up and down... My suggestion, if you don't need the data, 1p mobile... The speeds on that service beat EE and they piggyback EE... makes no sense, right? Call quality was brilliant, zero problems... If you use up to a set amount, I'd check them out... Monthly contract so nowt to lose.
    ROSG04's avatar
    for £8 more i've got gig1 with virgin media lol
  20. Sean_Fitzpatrick's avatar
    Vodafone was doing this for £12 per month not sure if they still are
    KodaBear's avatar
    Nope, they pulled the plug on that around the start of the year. Fibre 2 (80Mb) for £20 is their only option now.
  21. mummymelly's avatar
    Anyone have any idea if they do a tv included package? Thanks  (edited)
    KodaBear's avatar
    BT Currently have a £15/Month add-on for their pro TV box and entertainment package.
    Virgin let you get a Stream box for free with their £20 bundle, but all channel packs are an additional monthly cost.

    Note that unlike the social broadband tariffs, TV Packages you add on are subject to the usual minimum terms of any contract you might agree to, and also subject to the annual price increases too.

    In most cases, people are better off getting their own TV equipment and going as far as they can with free content, then subscribing to premium services just as and when you need them.
  22. Paul_f1's avatar
    Does this thread include mobile data Sims as well?
    KodaBear's avatar
    Yes. Smarty, EE and Vodafone’s Voxi brand.
  23. TekWoodyatt1's avatar
    This should be a discussion post, no?
    MrSwitch's avatar
    Author
    Wasn't sure, but I guess more will see it in deals, and there have been a fair few new additions since last time
  24. randomandy's avatar
    That EE Basics needs removed again (same as last time when I whined about it)... 5GB allowance is a disgrace for £12, it's not fiber either so not sure why anyone would take a limited speed mobile connection over a proper fiber home line.

    Could throw a stick to beat 5GB for £12 for a mobile tariff, is there not a Three Business Unlimited tariff for £5 per month? Regardless I'd be looking for unlimited mobile data for £12 per month.

    Edit - EE have totally triggered me with that again lol. That "Great Speeds, max 25 Mbps" limit when I was getting 420 Mbps on their network with Talk Home is outrageous lol (edited)
    MrSwitch's avatar
    Author
    I agree, not the best, but then it's ee, and none of what they offer are the best. Will leave it in there for those that strictly want ee. But again I agree its a poor offer.
  25. Leonh's avatar
    Handy for some but some of the speeds are ridiculous, get a 5g router from cex etc then a cheap 5g plan is still the best way to go.
    KodaBear's avatar
    The Smarty £12 Unlimited SIM listed above will work for this. But there's no shortage of places where the speeds will be lower and latency higher than the fixed line connections on offer here. Additionally, since it uses CGNAT, and the fact that you have the upfront cost of a router to pay at £100+ for a 5G model this isn't really viable for everyone.
  26. luvabargin's avatar
    I get quick line for 16.50 a month
    52649870-bGpUf.jpg
  27. zizouG's avatar
    This is a great post highlighting whats available.

    Restricted speeds of up to 20 mb should be free for everyone.

    As the wise Tupac Amaru Shakur said, "They got money for wars, but can't feed the poor"
    KodaBear's avatar
    Openreach actually have a 20/2 fibre speed tier that was designed to allow ISPs to offer very cheap or even free broadband. Only 2 ISPs ever launched it and quietly axed the tier shortly after.
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