MILLIONS of Brits can get help with broadband bills and avoid price rises this year.
Internet providers offer special deals for people who claim benefits including Universal Credit.
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Many broadband suppliers including Sky and EE have announced price hikes this year.
But some companies have lower tariffs to help hard-up Brits access the internet at home.
A broadband connection can help people check their benefits, find a job or course and get advice, as well as provide a source of entertainment.
Make sure you compare prices with other standard tariff deals on the market before signing up, to make sure you’re getting the best value for money.
If you already have a broadband provider, check your current contract before switching to make sure you won’t be hit with any unexpected exit charges.
We explain which firms offer more affordable tariffs and how to apply.
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TalkTalk
TalkTalk is offering jobseekers free broadband for six months.
If you’re out of work you could get half a year of TalkTalk’s Fibre 35 without paying a penny.
It usually costs £22 a month, and offers speeds of up to 40mb per second.
The referrals will be made through the job centre, so ask your work coach about the deal. You can find your nearest job centre online.
TalkTalk provides referrals to the Department for Work and Pensions which are then distributed to customers.
Eligible applicants can call TalkTalk to redeem the code.
BT
Benefits claimants can get cheaper broadband through BT.
The telecoms giant is offering an Essentials package, with speeds of up to 36mb/s, for as little as £15 a month.
If you want a faster connection, you can pay £20 for 67mb/s.
You can get the discount if you claim one of the following benefits:
- Employment and support allowance
- Guarantee credit element of pension credit
- Income support
- Jobseekers allowance
- Universal Credit
Customers can apply online or over the phone, and BT has recently started offering the deal in store.
You’ll need your national insurance number when you order, so make sure you have it to hand.
Virgin Media’s Essential broadband is £15 a month for speeds of up to 15mb/s.
It’s only open to Universal Credit claimants who are already Virgin customers and want to switch to the cheaper package.
It’s a broadband-only package, so if you have a Virgin TV or landline deal those services will be cancelled.
The package is a 30-day rolling contact, so you can switch back to your normal service when you’re ready.
It’s £14.99 cheaper than Virgin’s cheapest standard deal of £29.99 a month,
You can apply for the service online and Virgin Media will guide you through the eligibility checks.
You won’t have to pay any extra fees for switching away from your usual service.
If you claim benefits and live in London, you might be able to get Community Fibre’s £10 broadband deal.
It’s available to new customers and you can apply by calling the London sales team on 0808 196 6262.
You’ll get internet speeds of up to 10mb/s, and can apply if you claim one of the following benefits:
- ESA
- Care leavers support
- Guarantee element of pension credit
- Housing benefit
- Income support
- Jobseekers allowance
- Personal independence payment
- Universal Credit
You’ll have to provide evidence of your benefit payments within 30 days of your service starting.
If you don’t do that, you’ll be moved to the 75mb/s fibre broadband package which costs £22, or £27 after 12 months.
G Network
G Network’s essential fibre is also only available to people living in London who claim certain benefits.
It’s £15 a month on a 12-month minimum term compared to G Network’s cheapest monthly tariff of £27.
If you claim one of the following benefits you might be able to get the deal:
- Universal Credit
- Income support
- Guarantee element of pension credit
- Jobseekers allowance
- Employment and support allowance
You will have to provide evidence that you’re getting at least one of the benefits on the list.
That could be a copy of your latest Universal Credit statement or a proof of benefits entitlement letter, which can be emailed or posted.
You can apply for essential fibre online.
Hyperoptic
Hyperoptic offers two different deals depending on what speeds you need.
You can get £11 off the fair fibre 50mb package or £7 off its 150mb deal.
That means you’d pay £15 a month or £25 a month for superfast broadband.
- The 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, get in touch with the Hyperoptic customer service team.
Kcom
Kcom only operates in north Lincolnshire and east Yorkshire, so you can only get a broadband deal if you live in those areas.
It’s also restricted to people who claim certain benefits, so you must be in receipt of one of the following:
- Employment and support allowance
- Guarantee element of pension credit
- Income support
- Jobseekers allowance
- Personal independence payment
- Universal Credit
Other ways to save
If you’re not eligible for any of the social tariffs but are looking for a way to cut your broadband bills, there are other tactics to try.
If you’re out of contract it’s worth looking around to see if you can switch to a better deal.
Use a comparison website such as Comparethemarket or Uswitch to browse other options.
If you’re mid-contract, you could could be charged for quitting early.
But it’s worth asking your supplier if they can reduce your payments.
For example, we spoke to one woman who saved £268 on her mobile bill by making a single phone call and haggling with her supplier.
The same tactic could work for broadband costs.
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This post first appeared on thesun.co.uk
