Social tariffs are cheaper broadband rates available for people who receive certain benefits, including Universal Credit.
Most cost £12 to £20 a month for superfast speeds, meaning they’re sufficient for typical users who want to stream TV and make video calls. Similar standard broadband packages cost around £30 a month.
Only around 8% of eligible households are signed up to social tariffs.
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Depending on your broadband provider, you will be eligible if you already receive Universal Credit, Pension Credit, Job Seekers allowance, Income support, Employment and Support allowance or Housing Benefits.
You can check if your provider offers a social tariff by looking at the table below, and then request to switch online or by phone. If your provider doesn’t offer one, you can switch to one that does.
To apply for a social tariff yourself, it’s a good idea to have your National Insurance number and proof of Universal Credit or other benefits payment to hand.
| Social tariff package | Price | Average speed | Where it's available |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4th Utility Social Tariff | £13.99 a month | 30 Mbit/s | England |
| BT Home Essentials No Income | £15 a month | 36 Mbit/s | UK |
| BT Home Essentials Unlimited 36 Mbp/s | £20 a month | 36 Mbit/s | UK |
| BT Home Essentials Unlimited 67 Mbp/s | £23 a month | 67 Mbit/s | UK |
| Community Fibre Essential | £12.50 a month | 35 Mbit/s | England (London) |
| Connect Fibre Basic Essentials | £20 per month | 50 Mbit/s | England (Cambridgeshire, Essex, Nottinghamshire, Yorkshire and Derbyshire) |
| Connect Fibre Essentials | £25 per month | 150 Mbit/s | England (Cambridgeshire, Essex, Nottinghamshire, Yorkshire and Derbyshire) |
| Country Connect Social Tariff | £15 a month | 50 Mbit/s | Wales (Newport) |
| County Broadband Essential Broadband Tariff | £15 per month | 15 Mbit/s | England (East of England) |
| EE Basics | £12 a month | Up to 25 Mbit/s | UK |
| Fibrus Full Fibre Essential | £14.99 a month | 50 Mbit/s | Northern Ireland and Cumbria |
| G.Network Essential Fibre Broadband | £15 a month | 50 Mbit/s | England (London) |
| Grayshott Gigabit Connect | £19 a month | 100 Mbit/s | England |
| Hey!Broadband Everyday Fibre | £16 per month | 100 Mbit/s | England (South East England) |
| Hyperoptic Fair Fibre 50 | £15 a month | 50 Mbit/s | England, Scotland, Wales |
| Hyperoptic Fair Fibre 150 | £20 a month | 150 Mbit/s | England, Scotland, Wales |
| KCOM Full Fibre Flex | £14.99 a month | 30 Mbit/s | England (Hull) |
| Lightning Fibre Social Tariff | £15 a month | 50 Mbit/s | England (East Sussex and Kent) |
| Lothian Broadband Social Tariff | £19.99 a month | 100 Mbit/s | Scotland (Lothian) |
| NOW Broadband Basics | £20 a month | 36 Mbit/s | UK |
| Quickline Social Tariff | £16.50 a month | 100 Mbit/s | England (Yorkshire and Lincolnshire) |
| RunFibre social tariff | £20 a month | 100 Mbit/s | England (South Gloucestershire) |
| Shell Essentials Fast Broadband | £15 a month | 11 Mbit/s | UK |
| Shell Essentials Fibre Broadband | £20 a month | 38 Mbit/s | UK |
| Sky Broadband Basics | £20 a month | 36 Mbit/s | UK |
| SMARTY Social Tariff | £12 a month | 5G where available | UK |
| toob essentials | £20 a month | 50 Mbit/s | Hampshire, Southampton, and Surrey’ |
| Truespeed Basic | £20 a month | 30 Mbit/s | England (South West) |
| Virgin Media Essential Broadband | £12.50 a month | 15 Mbit/s | UK |
| Virgin Media Essential Broadband Plus | £20 a month | 54 Mbit/s | UK |
| Vodafone Fibre 2 Essentials | £20 per month | 73 Mbit/s | UK |
| VOXI For Now | £10 a month | 5G where available | UK |
| Wildanet Helping Hand Social Tariff | £20 a month | 30-100 Mbit/s | England (Cornwall and Devon) |
| WightFibre Essential Broadband | £16.50 a month | 100 Mbit/s | England (Isle of Wight) |
| YouFibre Social Tariff | £15 a month | 50 Mbit/s | UK (various locations) |
Source: Ofcom
Ofcom estimates that the average household could save £144 a year by moving to a social tariff, whereas other research has estimated the typical saving at around £234 a year. Let’s have a look at a couple of examples:
<aside> 🧮 Example #1 If you’re in contract for 36MB broadband with BT at £26.99 a month, you could get the same speed for £15 a month on BT’s social tariff, saving £143.88 a year.
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<aside> 🧮 Example #2 If you’re out of contract paying Sky £35.50 a month for 36MB broadband, you could get the same speed for £20 a month on Sky’s social tariff, saving £184.80 a year.
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Social tariffs are there to help those on low incomes save money on a reasonable internet connection. They may not be the highest speed your provider offers as generally these are considered a premium and more expensive product. They will however be at a speed which for most people is suitable for browsing, video calling and streaming.
Currently, it depends on your provider. The fairest providers do offer a discount on broadband as part of bundled packages to those eligible for a social tariff, but some don’t.