On Universal Credit? You Could Pay Around £12 a Month for Broadband

Quick summary: If anyone in your home gets Universal Credit, you can switch to a cheap broadband "social tariff", usually costing between about £12 and £25 a month. Many providers also accept Pension Credit, Employment and Support Allowance, Jobseeker's Allowance and Income Support, and some accept Personal Independence Payment. The price won't rise mid-contract and it costs nothing to leave. Cheap mobile deals from £10 a month work the same way.

Applies in: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Prices checked September 2026. Always check the current price with the provider.

The deal most people don't know about

Social tariffs are cheaper broadband and phone packages for people on benefits. They've been around for years, yet very few people use them.

According to Ofcom figures reported by ISPreview, 532,000 households were on a social tariff in June 2025. That's just 8.6% of households who could get one. Seven in ten eligible households didn't know social tariffs existed. Switching saves an eligible household around £200 a year on average.

Who qualifies?

According to Ofcom:

Universal Credit: if you or someone in your household claims it, you can switch to any of the social tariffs available
Other benefits: the major providers also accept Pension Credit, Employment and Support Allowance, Jobseeker's Allowance and Income Support
Disability benefits: some providers accept Personal Independence Payment and Attendance Allowance

Each provider sets its own list, so check before you switch.

What you get

A lower monthly price, usually between about £12 and £25
No price rises mid-contract
Nothing to pay if you leave
Often nothing to pay to switch, and little or no set-up cost
Decent speeds. Most offer superfast broadband of 30Mbit/s or more

Examples of social tariffs

These are examples from Ofcom's list, checked in September 2026. Prices can change, and some depend on the speed you pick. Ofcom lists more than 30 providers, including smaller regional ones.

Provider	Tariff	Price a month
Virgin Media	Essential Broadband	£12.50 to £20
Community Fibre	Essential	£12.50
Hyperoptic	Fair Fibre	£12 to £20
BT	Home Essentials	£16.50 to £25
Sky	Broadband Basics	£20
Vodafone	Fibre 2 Essentials	£20

Mobile social tariffs:

Provider	Tariff	Price a month
VOXI	For Now	£10
O2	Essential Plan	£10
SMARTY	Social Tariff	£12

How to switch

Check what you pay now. Find your latest bill and note the monthly price and any contract end date.
Call your current provider first. Ask whether they have a social tariff. If you're mid-contract, ask them to waive any exit fee to move you onto their own social tariff or someone else's. Ofcom says your provider may do this.
Have proof of your benefit ready. The provider will need to confirm you get a qualifying benefit, so keep your latest award letter or online statement handy.
Compare. If your provider doesn't offer one, or another is cheaper or faster where you live, use Ofcom's list to find it.

No internet at all? Free mobile data

If you can't afford any internet, the National Databank gives out free SIM cards with mobile data, donated by Virgin Media O2, Vodafone and Three. You need to be 18 or over, on a low income, and without enough internet at home or on the go, or unable to afford a contract or top-up. It works through more than 4,000 local Digital Inclusion Hubs, such as libraries and community centres. Find a hub near you or read more about the National Databank.

Other bills worth checking

If you need food help today

Find your nearest food bank and read how to get a food bank voucher or referral.

Frequently asked questions

What is a broadband social tariff?

It's a cheaper broadband or phone package for people on certain benefits, usually costing between about £12 and £25 a month for broadband and from £10 a month for mobile.

Can I get social tariff broadband on Universal Credit?

Yes. If you or someone in your household claims Universal Credit, you can switch to any of the social tariffs available.

Can I get a social tariff if I get PIP?

Some providers accept Personal Independence Payment. Check each provider's rules on Ofcom's list.

Will I have to pay to leave my contract?

It depends on your provider. Ask them to waive any exit fee to move you onto their social tariff or another provider's. Once you're on a social tariff, it costs nothing to leave.