5 Companies Offering Subsidized Broadband Internet in the UK

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There are many low-income households who can’t afford good broadband services, especially with inflation causing price increases of general utility bills and broadband. In the United Kingdom, the government has encouraged providers to create a “social tariff broadband" plan where lower income households who receive Universal Credit and other benefits can now apply to receive internet services at lower fee than normal rates.

The requirements to qualify for social tariff broadband plans follow similar guidelines to state benefits such as Universal Credit, Pension Credit or legacy equivalents. You have to check what the exact requirements are from the various providers as they have their own standards in place.

Some providers only offer these deals to people who have Universal Credit, whereas others give eligibility to people on Income Support, Employment & Support Allowance and Jobseeker’s Allowance. Providers such as KCOM and Hyperoptic also extend eligibility to households that receive non-means-tested benefits such as the Personal Independence Payment.

Now, let’s look at some of the providers who offer social tariff broadband deals.

1. Hyperoptic

Hyperoptic offers two different social tariff deals to low-income households. The first option is cheaper and offers speeds up to 50 Mbps for £15 per month. The slightly larger package with speeds up to 150 Mbps costs £25 per month.

Both deals are available on a month-to-month basis with no contract obligation, and they both offer unlimited data, free installation and free activation. If you are on any one of the following benefit plans, then you can apply to receive one of these packages:

• 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)

2. BT Home Essentials

Depending on your budget, BT Home Essentials have two great options to choose from. Their entry-level package will cost you £15 per month with speeds up to 36 Mbps and the more expensive package is £20 per month with speeds up to 64 Mbps. Both packages do require a 12-month contract. They offer the packages to anyone who has:

• Universal Credit
• Pension Credit
• Employment & Support Allowance
• Jobseekers Allowance
• Income Support

3. Virgin Media Essential

Virgin Media, one of the larger companies in the United Kingdom, also offers packages to low-income households through the social tariff broadband program. Their package costs only £15 per month with speeds up to 15Mbps.

This fibre broadband option through Virgin Media Essentials has free set up and is available on a 30-day rolling contract. Anyone with Universal Credit can apply for this package.

4. KCOM

KCOM offers an amazing data package called Flex for only £14.99 per month, with great speeds up to 30 Mbps. The package is on a 30-day rolling contract, and if you sign up for a full a 12-month contract in advance you can add calls to the package for an additional £5.10 per month. This deal is only available to people residing in the Hull and East Yorkshire areas. You will be eligible if you have any one of the following benefits:

• Income Support
• Pension Credit
• Job Seekers Allowance
• Housing Benefit
• Personal Independence Payment
• Attendance Allowance
• Universal Credit, with zero earnings
• Care Home residents and Lifeline customers who are referred to us via Social Services
• Care Leavers
• Employment and Support Allowance (EAS) (Income related)

5. Sky

As a Sky account holder, you will need to already be registered for the Universal Credit or Pension Credit programs to qualify for their social tariff broadband package. The package costs £20 per month with speeds up to 36 Mbps, but it’s only available on an 18-month contract.

On the Sky Broadband Essential Plus package, you pay as you talk so you’ll only pay for the calls that you make. One of the downsides of this package is that after the 18-month contract ends, the rates return to the standard pricing model.

Final Notes

If you qualify for state or social benefit programs in the United Kingdom, your household may also be eligible for subsidized internet packages. These social tariff broadband plans are offered directly through internet providers, so be sure to research online and see what options you are eligible for before applying.