Consider your connection: affordable internet tariffs for those on low incomes

How can I afford internet when I have other bills to pay?

Broadband internet is more a necessity than a luxury nowadays, with so much being done digitally. But it can be unaffordable for those on low incomes, when other household bills take priority. 

The average broadband bill in England is around £25 a month according to comparison websites. Of course, costs depend on things like location, usage, and the provider you choose.

The good news is that more providers are now offering affordable broadband and home phone deals to customers on low incomes, including BT (in most of the UK) and KCOM (in Hull & East Riding, where BT is not available).  Hyperoptic, Shell, Vodafone and Virgin Media also offer affordable tariffs for customers on certain benefits, and Talk Talk have a free internet option for jobseekers.

Let’s take a look at what’s on offer…

BT’s Home Essentials tariff

BT’s Home Essentials package costs £15 a month for speeds of about 36 megabits per second (Mbps) and 700 mins of calls included, with a call-only option for £10 per month.

There’s also a 67 Mb option with unlimited calls for £20 per month. Full details can be found here.

This ‘social tariff’ is exclusively for those receiving Universal Credit, the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit, Jobseeker’s Allowance, Income Support, and Employment & Support Allowance – BT estimates this covers around 4.6 million households across the UK.

Virgin Media Essential broadband 

Virgin’s Essential broadband package costs £15 a month for 15Mbps fibre broadband speed, with a ‘no price increase’ promise - the ‘Essential Plus’ package costs £20 per month and gives 54Mbps fibre broadband speed. It’s only available to existing Virgin Media customers who are eligible for one of the following benefits: Universal Credit, Pension Credit, Income Support, Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance or Income-based Employment Support Allowance.  

Follow the link above for more details and to apply for the package via the Live Chat process (eligibility checks will be conducted).

Hyperoptic broadband / phone

The Hyperoptic Fair Fibre Plan gives eligible customers unlimited data for either: 

• £15 per month for 50Mb + an optional £3 for phone calls

• Or £20 per month for 150Mb  +  an optional £3 for phone calls

It’s a monthly rolling contract with no exit fees, free installation and activation. A phone service is an optional extra and includes free evening & weekend landline calls

Qualifying benefits are: 

• Income Support

• Pension Credit

• Income-related Job Seekers Allowance (JSA)

• Housing Benefit

• Personal Independence Payment

• Attendance Allowance

• Universal Credit

• Care Leavers’ Support

• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

To apply follow the link above, call 0203 318 3209 or email support@hyperoptic.com

Vodafone Essentials broadband

This tariff offers customers on low incomes a broadband connection with download speeds of up to 38Mbps, for a price of £12 per month.

Those claiming the following benefits are eligible, as well as existing Vodafone customers who have been identified as financially vulnerable.

• Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)

• Universal Credit

• Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

• Disability Living Allowance (DLA)

• Personal Independence Payment (PIP)

Visit https://www.vodafone.co.uk/broadband/essentials-broadband to apply online, visit a Vodafone store, or call 0333 304 0191 (191 from a Vodafone mobile) to speak to Customer Services.

Shell Essentials broadband

Customers on low incomes can choose from ‘Essentials’ tariffs of either £15 per month (11Mbps) or £20 per month (38Mbps) for a 12-month contract.

Customers must be claiming one of the following benefits to be eligible for these tariffs:

• Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

• Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA)

• Income Support

• Pension Credit

• Universal Credit

Applications are currently only being accepted over the phone - call 0330 1759942 if you are a new customer, or 0330 0949181 if you are already a Shell customer.

Talk Talk free broadband

Talk Talk have partnered with Job Centre Plus to offer 6 months’ free broadband to jobseekers claiming Universal Credit who do not have a broadband connection at home. There’s no contract and therefore no obligation to continue with the company once the 6 month period has finished. If you are interested in this offer, you should ask your Job Centre Coach if you can apply; you’ll then be given a referral code which you can use to call a dedicated phone-line and arrange the details with Talk Talk directly. Read more details on Martin Lewis’s site here or on TalkTalk’s website here.

Where can I get more information about cheap broadband packages?

Try Martin Lewis’s MoneySavingExpert site, which has lots of up-to-date information on what’s available, as well as the pros and cons of all the choices and links to further details.  Remember, there may be other tariffs available besides ‘social tariffs’ which are cheaper, or more suitable for your particular circumstances, so it is definitely worth making a comparison before taking a final decision.

Alternatives to home broadband

Home broadband is not the only way to get online. Some alternatives are:

• Use a smart phone with a big mobile data allowance. Many people also save money by dispensing with their landline altogether.

• Visit your local public library: many offer free wi-fi and computers with free internet access.

• Free public Wi-Fi is now common, in cafes, trains, shops etc.

• Tether your laptop or tablet to your smart phone to allow it to use the phone’s data (make sure you know how much it is using and how much that will cost you)
  

The information in this article was to date as of October ‘22 but details can and do change; please check directly with the companies mentioned for prices and the small print.